Mutant calreticulin for the diagnosis of myeloid malignancies

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing myeloid malignancy comprising determining the presence of a mutant allele of the calreticulin gene. Also genomic sequences, cDNA sequences, mRNA sequences and protein sequences of the mutant calreticulin are subject of the present invention. Further, the invention relates to medical uses of inhibitors of mutant calreticulin.

The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing a myeloidmalignancy comprising determining the presence of a mutant allele of thecalreticulin gene. Also genomic sequences, cDNA sequences, mRNAsequences and protein sequences of the mutant calreticulin are subjectof the present invention. Further, the invention relates to medical usesof inhibitors of mutant calreticulin.

Primary myelofibrosis (PMF), essential thrombocythemia (ET) andpolycythemia vera (PV) are monoclonal hematological disorders thatbelong to the classical BCR-ABL negative myeloproliferative neoplasms(MPN) (Campbell & Green, 2006). Since the 2005 discovery of a somaticmutation in the JAK2 kinase gene, a tremendous progress has been made inmolecular diagnosis, clinical management, treatment and molecularunderstanding of MPN. The valine to phenylalanine (V617F) mutationconstitutively activates the Jak2 kinase resulting in increasedphosphorylation of its substrates (Stat5, Stat3, Erk, etc.) and leadingto increased cytokine responsiveness of myeloid cells (Baxter et al,2005; James et al, 2005; Kralovics et al, 2005; Levine et al, 2005).Identification of additional mutations soon followed such as in JAK2exon 12 in PV (Scott et al, 2007) and in the thrombopoietin receptorgene MPL in PMF and ET (Pardanani et al, 2006; Pikman et al, 2006).Although the three MPN disease entities differ in their clinicalpresentation, they share many molecular as well as clinical features.The JAK2-V617F mutation is present in about 95% of PV cases, 60% PMF and50% of ET cases, respectively. Mutations in JAK2 exon 12 are specific toabout 3% of PV cases whereas MPL mutations are restricted to the PMF(5%) and ET (3%). All three MPN entities are predisposed at a variabledegree to thrombosis, bleeding and leukemic transformation (Sverdlow etal, 2008). Although patients may remain in the chronic phase of MPN forseveral years, disease progression occurs in a form of secondarymyelofibrosis in PV and ET, development of accelerated phase withvariable degree of pancytopenia followed by leukemic transformationaffecting all three MPN entities (Sverdlow et al, 2008).

Somatic mutations accumulate during the entire clonal evolution of MPNhematopoietic stem cells. These acquired genetic alterations may bepoint mutations, chromosomal lesions and epigenetic defects and they allmay contribute to the fitness of the evolving clone (Klampfl et al,2011; Kralovics, 2008). These mutations may accelerate proliferation byvarious means, decrease differentiation potential of progenitors orrender them less susceptible to apoptosis. Mutations affecting thesemechanisms have been described in genes such as TET2 (Delhommeau et al,2009), EZH2 (Ernst et al, 2010), DNMT3A (Stegelmann et al, 2011), ASXL1(Stein et al, 2011), and TP53 (Harutyunyan et al, 2011) in differenttypes of myeloid malignancies including MPN (Milosevic & Kralovics,2013). However, so far only JAK2 and MPL mutations are consideredstrongly MPN associated and they represent the most useful molecularmarkers of MPN.

Despite the progress made in the understanding of the molecularpathogenesis of MPN approximately half of the patients with PMF and ETlack a molecular marker for diagnosis as these patients are negative forboth JAK2 and MPL mutations.

Thus, the technical problem underlying the present invention is theprovision of means and methods for diagnosis of a myeloid malignancy.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method for assessingwhether a patient suffers from a myeloid malignancy or is prone tosuffering from a myeloid malignancy, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from a myeloid malignancy or        is prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy when said one or        more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene is present.

The technical problem is solved by provision of the embodimentscharacterized in the claims.

The present invention solves the above identified technical problemsince, as documented herein below and in the appended examples, it wassurprisingly found that patients suffering from a myeloid malignancy,preferably primary myelofibrosis (PMF) and essential thrombocytemia(ET), have somatic mutations in the calreticulin (CALR) gene. Anothersurprising finding was that these myeloid cell specific somaticmutations in the CALR gene in patients with MPN strongly associate withthose patients that are negative for both JAK2 and MPL mutations (thepreviously described disease causing mutations in MPN). As shown herein,CALR mutations are found in 88% of PMF cases, and in 68% of ET casesdouble negative for JAK2 and MPL. Thus, the present invention provides areliable diagnosis of myeloid malignancies. The invention is especiallyuseful for patients for which no reliable markers exist, such aspatients which are negative for JAK2 and MPL mutations.

Moreover, it was found herein that the herein provided somatic mutationsin the calreticulin (CALR) gene result in a C-terminus of thecalreticulin protein which has completely different characteristicscompared with the wild type calreticulin protein. It is believed thatthese different characteristics cause or contribute to the developmentof myeloid malignancy, preferably primary myelofibrosis (PMF) andessential thrombocytemia (ET).

All the mutations of CALR identified herein are in the last exon 9encoding the C-terminal amino acids of the protein and are predominantlyinsertion/deletion mutations. The majority of the mutations were presentin a heterozygous state and they cause a frameshift to an alternativereading frame (alternative frame 1 as shown in FIG. 3A). This frameshiftresults in the replacement of the C-terminal negatively charged aminoacids (aspartic and glutamic acid rich) of calreticulin by apredominantly positively charged polypeptide rich in arginine andmethionine. In addition, the last 4 amino acids of calreticulin (KDEL(SEQ ID NO: 1331)) contain the endoplasmatic reticulum retention signal.This signal is absent in the mutant calreticulin suggesting that themutant protein is less represented in the ER compared to the wild typeprotein. As the negatively charged C-terminus of calreticulin is a lowaffinity high capacity Ca2+ binding domain, it is believed that the Ca2+binding function of the mutant protein is lost. It has been demonstratedherein that the predominant mutations of CALR are type 1 and type 2mutations as defined herein; see FIG. 3E. These mutants and their use inaccordance with the present invention is therefore preferred. Nucleicacid sequences encoding the C-terminus and the amino acid sequence ofthe C-terminus of type 1 and type 2 CALR mutations are shown in SEQ IDNO: 5 to 12. Further nucleic acids of type 1 and type 2 CALR mutationsare disclosed herein.

The present invention relates to the following items:

-   1. A method for assessing whether a patient suffers from a myeloid    malignancy or is prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy, said    method comprising    -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from a myeloid malignancy or        is prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy when said one or        more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene is present.-   2. The method according to item 1,    -   wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acid        encoding a mutant calreticulin protein.-   3. The method according to item 2, wherein said mutant calreticulin    protein is selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 4;    -   (c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino        acids are deleted, inserted, added or substituted;    -   (d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 4;    -   (e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a)        or (c);    -   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and (g) a protein comprising an amino acid        sequence encoded by a nucleic acid being degenerate as a result        of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid        as defined in (a), (d) or (e).-   4. The method according to item 2 or 3, wherein said mutant    calreticulin protein is selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6,        7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27,        29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49,        50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70,        71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 89, 90, 91,        93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110,        111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126, 127,        129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60,        64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116,        120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;    -   (c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino        acids are deleted, inserted, added or substituted;    -   (d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60,        64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116,        120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;    -   (e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a)        or (c);    -   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and (g) a protein comprising an amino acid        sequence encoded by a nucleic acid being degenerate as a result        of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid        as defined in (a), (d) or (e).-   5. The method according to any one of items 2 to 4, wherein said    mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293,        295, 296, 297, 299, 300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311,        312, 313, 315, 316, 317, 319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328,        329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336, 337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345,        347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355, 356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363,        364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373, 375, 376, 377, 379, 380,        381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392, 393, 395, 396, 397,        399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411, 412, 413, 415,        416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 431, 432,        or 433;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334,        338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386,        390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;    -   (c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino        acids are deleted, inserted, added or substituted;    -   (d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338,        342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390,        394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;    -   (e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a)        or (c);    -   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and    -   (g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d)        or (e).-   6. The method according to any one of items 2 to 5, wherein said    mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 145, 146, 147,        149, 150, 151, 153, 154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165,        166, 167, 169, 170, 171, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182,        183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199,        201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209, 210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217,        218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231, 233, 234,        235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246, 247, 249, 250, 251,        253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 267, 269,        270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283, 285, 286,        or 287;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188,        192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240,        244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;    -   (c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino        acids are deleted, inserted, added or substituted;    -   (d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192,        196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244,        248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;    -   (e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a)        or (c);    -   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and    -   (g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d)        or (e).-   7. The method according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein said one    or more mutant allele of the calreticulin gene is in a region    encompassing exon 9 of the calreticulin gene.-   8. The method according to any one of items 1 to 7, wherein said    mutant allele has a frameshift mutation compared to the wild-type    calreticulin gene.-   9. The method according to item 8, wherein said frameshift mutation    is in exon 9 of the calreticulin gene.-   10. The method according to item 8 or 9, wherein said frameshift    mutation is the deletion of one nucleotide or the addition of two    nucleotides.-   11. The method according to any one of items 8 or 9, wherein    (1+(3×n₀)) nucleotides are deleted from the calreticulin gene.-   12. The method according to any one of items 8, 9 and 11, wherein 1,    4, 19, 22, 31, 34, 46, 52 nucleotides are deleted.-   13. The method according to any one of items 8, 9, 11 and 12,    -   wherein 1 nucleotide is deleted and wherein 6 nucleotides are        inserted;    -   wherein 2 nucleotides are deleted and wherein 4 nucleotides are        inserted;    -   wherein 3 nucleotides are deleted and wherein 5 nucleotides are        inserted;    -   wherein 12 nucleotides are deleted and wherein 5 nucleotides are        inserted;    -   wherein 18 nucleotides are deleted and wherein 11 nucleotides        are inserted;    -   wherein 18 nucleotides are deleted and wherein 14 nucleotides        are inserted;    -   wherein 20 nucleotides are deleted and wherein 1 nucleotide is        inserted;    -   wherein 28 nucleotides are deleted and wherein 6 nucleotides are        inserted;    -   wherein 35 nucleotides are deleted and wherein 1 nucleotide is        inserted; or    -   wherein 36 nucleotides are deleted and wherein 2 nucleotides are        inserted.-   14. The method according to item 8 or 9, wherein (2+(3×n₀))    nucleotides are inserted into the calreticulin gene.-   15. The method according to item 14, wherein 5 nucleotides are    inserted.-   16. The method according to any one of items 1 to 15, wherein said    calreticulin gene comprises a sequence selected from the group    consisting of:    -   a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 290;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO: 289;    -   (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or        (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of (a) to (d).-   17. The method according to any one of items 10 to 16, wherein said    nucleotide(s) are deleted from and/or inserted into exon 9 of the    calreticulin gene.-   18. The method according to any one of items 9 to 17, wherein said    exon 9 of the calreticulin gene comprises a sequence selected from    the group consisting of:    -   a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO:436;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO:435;    -   (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or        (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of (a) to (d).-   19. The method according to any one of items 1 to 18, wherein said    mutant allele comprises a nucleic acid selected from the group    consisting of    -   (a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24,        28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,        92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140,        144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192,        196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244,        248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, 288; 294, 298,        302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350,        354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,        406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO: 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49,        53, 57, 61, 65, 69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89, 93, 97, 101, 105, 109,        113, 117, 121, 125, 129, 133, 137, 141, 145, 149, 153, 157, 161,        165, 169, 173, 177, 181, 185, 189, 193, 197, 201, 205, 209, 213,        217, 221, 225, 229, 233, 237, 241, 245, 249, 253, 257, 261, 265,        269, 273, 277, 281, 285, 291, 295, 299, 303, 307, 311, 315, 319,        323, 327, 331, 335, 339, 343, 347, 351, 355, 359, 363, 367, 371,        375, 379, 383, 387, 391, 395, 399, 403, 407, 411, 415, 419, 423,        427, or 431;    -   (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or        (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of (a) to (d).-   20. The method according to any one of items 1 to 19, wherein said    mutant allele is DNA, preferably genomic DNA.-   21. The method according to item 20, wherein the presence of said    DNA is determined by sequencing.-   22. A method for assessing whether a patient suffers from a myeloid    malignancy or is prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy, said    method comprising    -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from a myeloid malignancy or        is prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy when said gene        product is present.-   23. The method according to item 22,    -   wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acid        encoding a mutant calreticulin protein.-   24. The method according to item 23, wherein said mutant    calreticulin protein is selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 4;    -   (c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino        acids are deleted, inserted, added or substituted;    -   (d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 4;    -   (e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a)        or (c);    -   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and    -   (g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d)        or (e).-   25. The method according to item 23 or 24, wherein said mutant    calreticulin protein is selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6,        7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27,        29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49,        50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70,        71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 89, 90, 91,        93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110,        111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126, 127,        129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60,        64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116,        120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;    -   (c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino        acids are deleted, inserted, added or substituted;    -   (d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60,        64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116,        120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;    -   (e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a)        or (c);    -   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and    -   (g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d)        or (e).-   26. The method according to any one of items 23 to 25, wherein said    calreticulin protein is selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293,        295, 296, 297, 299, 300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311,        312, 313, 315, 316, 317, 319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328,        329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336, 337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345,        347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355, 356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363,        364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373, 375, 376, 377, 379, 380,        381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392, 393, 395, 396, 397,        399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411, 412, 413, 415,        416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 431, 432,        or 433;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334,        338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386,        390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;    -   (c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino        acids are deleted, inserted, added or substituted;    -   (d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338,        342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390,        394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;    -   (e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a)        or (c);    -   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and    -   (g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d)        or (e).-   27. The method according to any one of items 23 to 26, wherein said    mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 145, 146, 147,        149, 150, 151, 153, 154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165,        166, 167, 169, 170, 171, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182,        183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199,        201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209, 210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217,        218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231, 233, 234,        235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246, 247, 249, 250, 251,        253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 267, 269,        270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283, 285, 286,        or 287;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188,        192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240,        244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;    -   (c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino        acids are deleted, inserted, added or substituted;    -   (d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192,        196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244,        248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;    -   (e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a)        or (c);    -   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and    -   (g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d)        or (e).-   28. The method according to any one of items 22 to 27, wherein said    allele comprises a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting    of    -   (a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24,        28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,        92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140,        144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192,        196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244,        248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, 288; 294, 298,        302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350,        354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,        406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO: 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49,        53, 57, 61, 65, 69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89, 93, 97, 101, 105, 109,        113, 117, 121, 125, 129, 133, 137, 141, 145, 149, 153, 157, 161,        165, 169, 173, 177, 181, 185, 189, 193, 197, 201, 205, 209, 213,        217, 221, 225, 229, 233, 237, 241, 245, 249, 253, 257, 261, 265,        269, 273, 277, 281, 285, 291, 295, 299, 303, 307, 311, 315, 319,        323, 327, 331, 335, 339, 343, 347, 351, 355, 359, 363, 367, 371,        375, 379, 383, 387, 391, 395, 399, 403, 407, 411, 415, 419, 423,        427, or 431;    -   (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or        (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of (a) to (d).-   29. The method according to any one of items 22 to 28, wherein said    gene product comprises a nucleic acid selected from the group    consisting of    -   (a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO:4;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO: 3; (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent        conditions to the complementary strand of the nucleic acid as        defined in (a) or (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of (a) to (d).-   30. The method according to any one of items 22 to 29, wherein said    gene product comprises a nucleic acid selected from the group    consisting of    -   (a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24,        28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,        92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140,        or 144;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO: 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, 31, 35, 39, 43, 47, 51,        55, 59, 63, 67, 71, 75, 79, 83, 87, 91, 95, 99, 103, 107, 111,        115, 119, 123, 127, 131, 135, 139, or 143;    -   (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or        (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of (a) to (d).-   31. The method according to any one of items 22 to 30, wherein said    gene product comprises a nucleic acid selected from the group    consisting of    -   (a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302, 306, 310,        314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362,        366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414,        418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO: 293, 297, 301, 305, 309, 313, 317, 321, 325, 329,        333, 337, 341, 345, 349, 353, 357, 361, 365, 369, 373, 377, 381,        385, 389, 393, 397, 401, 405, 409, 413, 417, 421, 425, 429, or        433;    -   (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or        (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of (a) to (d).-   32. The method according to any one of items 22 to 31, wherein said    gene product comprises a nucleic acid selected from the group    consisting of    -   (a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164,        168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216,        220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268,        272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO: 147, 151, 155, 159, 163, 167, 171, 175, 179, 183,        187, 191, 195, 199, 203, 207, 211, 215, 219, 223, 227, 231, 235,        239, 243, 247, 251, 255, 259, 263, 267, 271, 275, 279, 283, or        287;    -   (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or        (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of (a) to (d).-   33. The method according to any one of items 22 to 28, wherein said    gene product comprises a polypeptide selected from the group    consisting of    -   a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 4;    -   (c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino        acids are deleted, inserted, added or substituted;    -   (d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 4;    -   (e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a)        or (c);    -   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and    -   (g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d)        or (e).-   34. The method according to any one of items 22 to 28 and 33,    wherein said gene product comprises a polypeptide selected from the    group consisting of    -   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6,        7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27,        29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49,        50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70,        71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 89, 90, 91,        93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110,        111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126, 127,        129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60,        64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116,        120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;    -   (c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino        acids are deleted, inserted, added or substituted;    -   (d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60,        64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116,        120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;    -   (e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a)        or (c);    -   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and    -   (g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d)        or (e).-   35. The method according to any one of items 22 to 28, 33 and 34,    wherein said gene product comprises a polypeptide selected from the    group consisting of    -   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293,        295, 296, 297, 299, 300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311,        312, 313, 315, 316, 317, 319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328,        329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336, 337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345,        347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355, 356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363,        364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373, 375, 376, 377, 379, 380,        381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392, 393, 395, 396, 397,        399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411, 412, 413, 415,        416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 431, 432,        or 433;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334,        338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386,        390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;    -   (c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino        acids are deleted, inserted, added or substituted;    -   (d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338,        342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390,        394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;    -   (e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a)        or (c);    -   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and    -   (g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d)        or (e).    -   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and    -   (g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d)        or (e).-   36. The method according to any one of items 22 to 28, and 33 to 35,    wherein said gene product comprises a polypeptide selected from the    group consisting of    -   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 145, 146, 147,        149, 150, 151, 153, 154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165,        166, 167, 169, 170, 171, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182,        183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199,        201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209, 210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217,        218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231, 233, 234,        235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246, 247, 249, 250, 251,        253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 267, 269,        270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283, 285, 286,        or 287;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188,        192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240,        244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;    -   (c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino        acids are deleted, inserted, added or substituted;    -   (d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192,        196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244,        248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;    -   (e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a)        or (c);    -   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and    -   (g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d)        or (e).    -   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and    -   (g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d)        or (e).-   37. The method according to any one of items 22 to 36, wherein said    gene product is mRNA.-   38. The method according to item 37, wherein the presence or amount    of said mRNA is determined by RealTime PCR, ReverseTranscriptase    PCR, Whole Transcriptome Shotgun Sequencing (RNAseq), in situ    hybridization or micro-arrays.-   39. The method according to claim 38, wherein the determination by    RealTime PCR or ReverseTranscriptase PCR further comprises the steps    -   (i) contacting the nucleic acid in the sample with one or two        oligonucleotides:    -   (ii) generating an amplification product containing the target        sequence.-   40. The method according to any one of items 22 to 28, and 33 to 36,    wherein said gene product is protein.-   41. The method according to item 40, wherein the presence or amount    of said protein is determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC), by    immunoassay, gel- or blot-based methods, IHC, mass spectrometry,    flow cytometry, or FACS.-   42. The method according to any one of items 1 to 41, wherein said    patient is a human patient.-   43. The method according to any one of items 1 to 42, wherein said    sample is a bone marrow sample.-   44. The method according to any one of items 1 to 42, wherein said    sample is a blood sample.-   45. The method according to item 43 or 44, wherein said bone marrow    sample is obtained by biopsy.-   46. The method according to any one of items 1 to 45, further    comprising administering an inhibitor of a mutant calreticulin to    the patient.-   47. A nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO:4;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO: 2;    -   (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or        (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of (a) to (d).-   48. The nucleic acid according to item 47, wherein said nucleic acid    is selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24,        28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,        92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140,        or 144;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO: 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38, 42, 46, 50,        54, 58, 62, 66, 70, 74, 78, 82, 86, 90, 94, 98, 102, 106, 110,        114, 118, 122, 126, 130, 134, 138, or 142;    -   (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or        (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of (a) to (d).-   49. The nucleic acid according to item 47 or 48, wherein said    nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302, 306, 310,        314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362,        366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414,        418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO: 292, 296, 300, 304, 308, 312, 316, 320, 324, 328,        332, 336, 340, 344, 348, 352, 356, 360, 364, 368, 372, 376, 380,        384, 388, 392, 396, 400, 404, 408, 412, 416, 420, 424, 428, or        432;    -   (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or        (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of (a) to (d).-   50. The nucleic acid according to any one of items 47 to 49, wherein    said nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164,        168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216,        220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268,        272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO: 146, 150, 154, 158, 162, 166, 170, 174, 178, 182,        186, 190, 194, 198, 202, 206, 210, 214, 218, 222, 226, 230, 234,        238, 242, 246, 250, 254, 258, 262, 266, 270, 274, 278, 282, or        286;    -   (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or        (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of (a) to (d).-   51. The nucleic acid according to any one of items 47 to 50, wherein    said nucleic acid is cDNA.-   52. A nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO:4;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO: 3;    -   (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or        (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of (a) to (d).-   53. The nucleic acid according to item 52, wherein said nucleic acid    is selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24,        28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,        92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140,        or 144;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO: 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, 31, 35, 39, 43, 47, 51,        55, 59, 63, 67, 71, 75, 79, 83, 87, 91, 95, 99, 103, 107, 111,        115, 119, 123, 127, 131, 135, 139, or 143;    -   (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or        (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of (a) to (d).-   54. The nucleic acid according to item 52 or 53, wherein said    nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302, 306, 310,        314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362,        366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414,        418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO: 293, 297, 301, 305, 309, 313, 317, 321, 325, 329,        333, 337, 341, 345, 349, 353, 357, 361, 365, 369, 373, 377, 381,        385, 389, 393, 397, 401, 405, 409, 413, 417, 421, 425, 429, or        433;    -   (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or        (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of (a) to (d).-   55. The nucleic acid according to item 52 or 54, wherein said    nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164,        168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216,        220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268,        272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO: 147, 151, 155, 159, 163, 167, 171, 175, 179, 183,        187, 191, 195, 199, 203, 207, 211, 215, 219, 223, 227, 231, 235,        239, 243, 247, 251, 255, 259, 263, 267, 271, 275, 279, 283, or        287;    -   (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or        (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of (a) to (d).-   56. The nucleic acid according to any one of items 52 to 55, wherein    said nucleic acid is mRNA.-   57. A nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO: 1; (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent        conditions to the complementary strand of the nucleic acid as        defined in (a) or (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of (a) to (d).-   58. The nucleic acid according to item 57, wherein said nucleic acid    selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24,        28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,        92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140,        or 144;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO: 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49,        53, 57, 61, 65, 69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89, 93, 97, 101, 105, 109,        113, 117, 121, 125, 129, 133, 137, or 141;    -   (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or        (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of (a) to (d).-   59. The nucleic acid according to item 57 or 58, wherein said    nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302, 306, 310,        314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362,        366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414,        418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO: 291, 295, 299, 303, 307, 311, 315, 319, 323, 327,        331, 335, 339, 343, 347, 351, 355, 359, 363, 367, 371, 375, 379,        383, 387, 391, 395, 399, 403, 407, 411, 415, 419, 423, 427, or        431;    -   (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or        (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of (a) to (d).-   60. The nucleic acid according to any one of items 57 to 59, wherein    said nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164,        168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216,        220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268,        272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO: 145, 149, 153, 157, 161, 165, 169, 173, 177, 181,        185, 189, 193, 197, 201, 205, 209, 213, 217, 221, 225, 229, 233,        237, 241, 245, 249, 253, 257, 261, 265, 269, 273, 277, 281, or        285;    -   (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or        (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of (a) to (d).-   61. The nucleic acid according to any one of items 57 to 60, wherein    said nucleic acid is genomic DNA.-   62. A protein selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 4;    -   (c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino        acids are deleted, inserted, added or substituted;    -   (d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 4;    -   (e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a)        or (c);    -   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and    -   (g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d)        or (e).-   63. The protein according to item 62, wherein said protein is    selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6,        7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27,        29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49,        50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70,        71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 89, 90, 91,        93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110,        111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126, 127,        129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60,        64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116,        120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;    -   (c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino        acids are deleted, inserted, added or substituted;    -   (d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60,        64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116,        120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;    -   (e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a)        or (c);    -   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and    -   (g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d)        or (e).-   64. The protein according to item 62 or 63, wherein said protein is    selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293,        295, 296, 297, 299, 300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311,        312, 313, 315, 316, 317, 319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328,        329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336, 337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345,        347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355, 356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363,        364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373, 375, 376, 377, 379, 380,        381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392, 393, 395, 396, 397,        399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411, 412, 413, 415,        416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 431, 432,        or 433;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334,        338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386,        390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;    -   (c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino        acids are deleted, inserted, added or substituted;    -   (d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338,        342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390,        394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;    -   (e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a)        or (c);    -   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and    -   (g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d)        or (e).    -   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and    -   (g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d)        or (e).-   65. The protein according to any one of items 62 to 64, wherein said    protein is selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 145, 146, 147,        149, 150, 151, 153, 154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165,        166, 167, 169, 170, 171, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182,        183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199,        201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209, 210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217,        218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231, 233, 234,        235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246, 247, 249, 250, 251,        253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 267, 269,        270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283, 285, 286,        or 287;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188,        192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240,        244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;    -   (c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino        acids are deleted, inserted, added or substituted;    -   (d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192,        196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244,        248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;    -   (e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a)        or (c);    -   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and    -   (g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d)        or (e).    -   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and    -   (g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d)        or (e).-   66. A vaccine comprising the protein according to item 62 or 63.-   67. An antibody specifically binding to the protein of any one of    items 62 to 65.-   68. An siRNA specifically targeting the nucleic acid of any one of    items 52 to 56.-   69. The siRNA according to item 68, wherein said siRNA consists of a    nucleic acid molecule comprising at least ten contiguous bases.-   70. The siRNA according to item 68 or 69, wherein up to 10% of the    contiguous bases are non-complementary.-   71. The siRNA according to any one of items 68 to 70, wherein said    siRNA further comprises at least one base at the 5′ end and/or at    least one base at the 3′ end.-   72. An inhibitor of a mutant calreticulin for use in the treatment    of a myeloid malignancy.-   73. Method for treating a myeloid malignancy patient comprising    administering an effective amount of an inhibitor of a mutant    calreticulin to the patient.-   74. The inhibitor according to item 72, or the method according to    item 46 or 73, wherein said mutant calreticulin is a mutant    calreticulin protein as defined in any one of items 62 to 65.-   75. The inhibitor according to item 72 or 74, or the method    according to any one items 56, 73 or 74, wherein said inhibitor is    an antibody.-   76. The inhibitor according to item 72 or 74, or the method    according to any one items 56, 73 or 74, wherein said inhibitor is    selected from the group consisting of extracellular binding    partners, small binding molecules, aptamers, and intramers.-   77. The inhibitor according to item 72, or the method according to    item 46 or 73, wherein said mutant calreticulin is a nucleic acid as    defined in any one of items 52 to 56.-   78. The inhibitor according to item 72 or 77, or the method    according to any one of items 46, 73 and 77, wherein said inhibitor    is selected from the group consisting of siRNA, miRNA, dsRNA, shRNA,    stRNA, and antisense molecules.-   79. The inhibitor according to any one of items 72, and 74 to 78; or    the method according to any one of items 1 to 46 and 73 to 78,    wherein said myeloid malignancy is a myeloproliferative neoplasm.-   80. The inhibitor according to item 79; or the method according to    item 79, wherein said myeloproliferative neoplasm is primary    myelofibrosis (PMF).-   81. The inhibitor according to item 79; or the method according to    item 79, wherein said myeloproliferative neoplasm is essential    thrombocythemia (ET).-   82. The inhibitor according to any one of items 72, and 74 to 78; or    the method according to any one of items 1 to 46 and 73 to 78,    wherein said myeloid malignancy is a myelodysplastic syndrome.-   83. The inhibitor according to item 82; or the method according to    item 82, wherein said myelodysplastic syndrome is refractory anemia    with ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T).-   84. The inhibitor according to any one of items 72, and 74 to 83; or    the method according to any one of items 73 to 83, wherein the    patient to be treated is assessed to suffer from a myeloid    malignancy or to be prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy    according to any one of items 1 to 46.-   85. The protein according to item 62 or 63, the antibody according    to 67, the siRNA according to any one of items 68 to 71 or an    inhibitor of a mutant calreticulin as defined in any one of items 72    to 78 for use as a medicament.-   86. A vector comprising the nucleic acid according to any one of    items 47 to 51 and 57 to 61.-   87. A host cell comprising the nucleic acid according to any one of    items 47 to 51 and 57 to 61 or the vector according to item 86.-   88. A process for the production of the polypeptide according to    item 62 to 65, said process comprising culturing host cells    according to item 87 under conditions allowing the expression of the    polypeptide and recovering the produced polypeptide from the    culture.

The detection of the herein provided CALR mutations at the level ofgenomic DNA, RNA, cDNA and protein is useful for the diagnosis of amyeloid malignancy, for example, whether a patient has a myeloidmalignancy, what type of myeloid malignancy, and specific features ofthe disease.

As used herein, “diagnosis” refers, inter alia, to the identification ofthe nature of an illness or the identification of a physiological orpathophysiological problem underlying a symptom. Thus “diagnosis of amyeloid malignancy” refers to determining (a) if a patient has a myeloidmalignancy and/or (b) what type(s) of myeloid malignancy and/or (c)features of the specific myeloid malignancy. Diagnosis can be performede.g. based on examination of symptoms and/or complementary tests (e.g.cytogenetic or molecular tests).

The term “assessing whether a patient suffers from a myeloid malignancy”and “diagnosing myeloid malignancy” can be used interchangeably herein.The diagnosis can also comprise or relate to the assessment whether apatient is prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy, i.e. whetherthe patient is at risk of developing a myeloid malignancy.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a myeloid malignancy or is prone to suffering froma myeloid malignancy, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from a myeloid malignancy or        is prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy when said one or        more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene is present.

The methods provided herein can comprise a step of obtaining a samplefrom the patient. “Obtaining” encompasses receipt of a sample that isprovided by a third party. For example, blood or bone marrow may bedrawn from a patient, placed in appropriate receptacle, and thenprovided for analysis.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a myeloid malignancy or is prone to suffering froma myeloid malignancy, said method comprising

-   -   obtaining a sample from said patient;    -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from a myeloid malignancy or        is prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy when said one or        more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene is present.

In accordance with the present invention, a patient is assessed“positive” for a myeloid malignancy, if one or more mutant alleles ofthe calreticulin gene are present in a sample, preferably a bloodsample, from said patient.

The term “myeloid malignancy” as used herein refers to clonalhaematological diseases affecting the myeloid blood lineages includingthose with chronic and those with acute clinical course. Myeloidmalignancies include myeloproliferative neoplasms, myelodysplasticsyndromes and acute myeloid leukemias. It is preferred herein that themyeloid malignancy is a myeloproliferative neoplasm, particularlyprimary myelofibrosis (PMF) or essential thrombocythemia (ET), or amyelodysplastic syndrome, particularly refractory anemia with ringedsideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T).

Thus, the diagnosis of myeloid malignancy can be to further diagnosesubtypes of disease. In further embodiments, the diagnosis utilizesadditional tests in combination, such as blood chemistry, cytology, andgenetic analysis. Depending on the nature of the myeloproliferativeneoplasm, additional diagnostic tests may include red cell massdetermination (for polycythemia), bone marrow aspirate and trephinebiopsy, arterial oxygen saturation and carboxyhaemoglobin level,neutrophil alkaline phosphatase level, vitamin B12 (or B12 bindingcapacity) and serum urate. Genetic tests have proven to be increasinglyimportant in diagnosis.

The following tests are traditionally done to diagnose the followingdiseases. See e.g. Vardiman, et al. (2009). “The 2008 revision of theWorld Health Organization (WHO) classification of myeloid neoplasms andacute leukemia: Rationale and important changes”. Blood 114 (5): 937-51.

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)

With defining translocation t(9;22); Philadelphia chromosome, BCR-ABLtranslocation which has three breakpoints:

-   -   u-BCR-ABL (p230): leads to CML with usual neutrophilia and        basophilia    -   minor-BCR-ABL (p190): leads to CML which has a tendency to        become acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) usually precursor B        ALL and rarely precursor T ALL    -   major-BCR-ABL (p210): normal usual breakpoint

Essential Thrombocythemia (ET)

ET is associated with the JAK2V617F mutation in up to 55% of cases andwith an MPL (thrombopoietin receptor) mutation in up to 5% of cases:

-   -   Cellular phase—increased large megakaryocytes with fibrosis and        little increase in other bone marrow elements    -   Fibrotic phase—collagenous fibrosis with lack of marrow elements

These disorders are still being revised according to more specificgenetic mutations and how often patients end in a fibrotic marrow event.

Polycythemia Vera (PV)

PV is associated most often with the JAK2V617F mutation in greater than95% of cases, whereas the remainder have a JAK2 exon 12 mutation:

-   -   Cellular phase—increased megakaryocytes which cluster, reticulin        fibrosis, later trichrome fibrosis, and increased myeloid and        erythroid precursors    -   Fibrotic phase—collagenous fibrosis with lack of marrow elements

Primary Myelofibrosis (PMF)

PMF is associated with the JAK2V617F mutation in up to 50% of cases, theJAK2 exon 12 mutations in 1-2% of cases, and the MPL (thrombopoietinreceptor) mutation in up to 5% of cases:

-   -   Cellular phase—increased megakaryocytes which cluster, reticulin        fibrosis, later trichrome (collagenous) fibrosis, and increased        myeloid precursors    -   Fibrotic phase—collagenous fibrosis with lack of marrow elements

Refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts associated with markedthrombocytosis (RARS-T) is often considered a myeloid malignancy.Diagnosis of RARS-T may traditionally involve hematology and cytology,analysis of bone marrow, and lack of karyotype abnormalities such as del(5q), t(3;3)(q21;q26) or inv(3)(q21;q26). See Broseus et al. “Clinicalfeatures and course of refractory anemia with ring sideroblastassociated with marked thrombocytosis” Haematologica 9(7): 1036-1041(2012).

While the type of myeloid malignancy guides diagnosis and treatment,individual malignancies may have specific mutations that furtherdetermine the prognosis and course of treatment. Genetic markers areparticularly useful because they often illuminate the underlyingpathogenesis of the disease.

The determination of the presence of one (or more) mutant alleles of thecalreticulin gene or of a gene product thereof as described herein canbe performed as a stand-alone analysis. Alternatively, this analysis canbe followed or preceded by the analysis of other markers for myeloidmalignancies, such as JAK2 and MPL mutations. For example, patientssuspected to suffer from a myeloid malignancy, such as amyeloproliferative neoplasm (and in particular primary myelofibrosis(PMF) or essential thrombocythemia (ET)), can be tested first for a JAK2mutation (in particular the V617F mutation). If they are tested negativefor the JAK2 mutation they can be tested for mutant calreticulin. Ifthey are then tested negative for mutant calreticulin, they can betested for MPL mutations, e.g. mutations in exon 10 of the mpl gene. Ofcourse, further markers can also be tested. Also different orders ormodes of testing JAK2 mutations, mutant calreticulin and/or MPLmutations and, optionally, further markers are envisaged herein. Forexample, a positive JAK2 mutation test can be followed by a test formutant calreticulin (and vice versa) for further diagnosis or prognosticassessment of the myeloid malignancy. Also simultaneous determination ofsuch markers is envisaged, like the simultaneous test for JAK2mutation(s) and mutant calreticulin (and, optionally, further markers),or the simultaneous test of JAK2 mutation(s), mutant calreticulin andMPL mutation(s) (and, optionally, further markers). Preferably, thepatients (or a sample from the patients) suffering from a myeloidmalignancy or being prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy arenegative for both JAK2 and MPL mutations, i.e. mutations of JAK2 and MPLare absent in patients assessed to suffer from a myeloid malignancy orbeing prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy in accordance withthe present invention. In other words, the patients (or a sample fromthe patients) assessed to suffer from a myeloid malignancy or beingprone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy in accordance with thepresent invention have preferably wild-type JAK2 and MPL present. Forfurther diagnosis, the use of further markers/tests is envisaged. Forexample, routine bone marrow testing can be used. Such furthermarkers/testing, like bone marrow testing, may be used to validate e.g.a positive mutant calreticulin test or may follow e.g. a negative mutantcalreticulin test.

Wild-type nucleic acid sequences and amino acid sequences of JAK2 andMPL are known and can be deduced from the respective databases, such asNCBI. Exemplary nucleic acid sequences and amino acid sequences ofwild-type JAK2 are shown in NM_004972.3 (JAK2 cDNA) and NP_004963.1(JAK2 protein), respectively. Exemplary nucleic acid sequences and aminoacid sequences of wild-type MPL are shown in NM_005373.2 (MPL cDNA) andNP_005364.1 (MPL protein).

Mutations of JAK2 and MPL in myeloid malignancies have been describedherein above. Such mutations are, for example, the V617F mutation ofJAK2 (valine to phenylalanine mutation at position 617 of the amino acidsequence of JAK2), mutations in exon 12 of the nucleic acid sequenceencoding JAK2 and/or mutations in exon 10 of MPL.

The valine to phenylalanine (V617F) mutation is disclosed in Baxter etal, 2005; James et al, 2005; Kralovics et al, 2005; Levine et al, 2005).Mutations in JAK2 exon 12 in PV and in the thrombopoietin receptor geneMPL in PMF and ET have been disclosed in Scott et al, 2007 and inPardanani et al, 2006; Pikman et al, 2006, respectively. All thesereferences are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The presence of JAK2 and MPL mutations can be excluded by allelespecific PCR for JAK2-V617F(ref) and by Sanger sequencing of exon 12 ofJAK2 and exon 10 of MPL. An exemplary protocol that can be used in thiscontext is disclosed in Kralovics R, Teo S S, Li S, Theocharides A,Buser A S, Tichelli A, Skoda R C. Acquisition of the V617F mutation ofJAK2 is a late genetic event in a subset of patients withmyeloproliferative disorders. Blood. 2006 Aug. 15; 108(4):1377-80. Epub2006 May 4, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a novel myeloid malignancypatient group which is assessed to be positive for mutant calreticulinand negative for mutant JAK2 and mutant MPL (or, in other words, thenovel myeloid malignancy patient group is assessed to be positive formutant calreticulin and positive for wild-type JAK2 and wild-type MPL).

In a preferred embodiment, the methods of the present invention comprise

-   -   a step of determining the presence of a wild type JAK2 protein        or a wild type JAK2 nucleic acid in a sample from the patient;        and/or    -   a step of determining the presence of a wild type MPL protein or        a wild type MPL nucleic acid in a sample from the patient.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the methods of the presentinvention comprise

-   -   a step of determining the presence of a wild type JAK2 protein        or a wild type JAK2 nucleic acid in a sample from the patient;        and    -   a step of determining the presence of a wild type MPL protein or        a wild type MPL nucleic acid in a sample from the patient.

The above steps of determining the presence of a wild type JAK2 proteinor a wild type JAK2 nucleic acid in a sample from the patient; and/ordetermining the presence of a wild type MPL protein or a wild type MPLnucleic acid in a sample from the patient can be performed prior to orafter the step of determining the presence of one or more mutant allelesof the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient as provided anddefined herein.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a myeloid malignancy or is prone to suffering froma myeloid malignancy, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;    -   determining the presence of a wild type JAK2 protein or a wild        type JAK2 nucleic acid in a sample from the patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from a myeloid malignancy or        is prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy when said one or        more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene is present.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a myeloid malignancy or is prone to suffering froma myeloid malignancy, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;    -   determining the presence of a wild type MPL protein or a wild        type MPL nucleic acid in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from a myeloid malignancy or        is prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy when said one or        more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene is present.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a myeloid malignancy or is prone to suffering froma myeloid malignancy, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;    -   determining the presence of a wild type JAK2 protein or a wild        type JAK2 nucleic acid in a sample from said patient;    -   determining the presence of a wild type MPL protein or a wild        type MPL nucleic acid in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from a myeloid malignancy or        is prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy when said one or        more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene is present.

Preferably, the method of the invention relates solely to the assessmentwhether a patient suffers from a myeloid malignancy.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a myeloid malignancy, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from a myeloid malignancy        when said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene is        present.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from primary myelofibrosis or is prone to suffering fromprimary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene is present.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene is present.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from refractory anemia withringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering        from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia when said one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene is present.

The method provided herein comprises determining the presence ofpreferably solely one mutant allele of the calreticulin gene in a samplefrom the patient. Preferably, the method is an in vitro method. Theherein provided and disclosed mutations of the calreticulin gene aresomatic mutations. These mutations can be present in a homozygous stateor a heterozyguous state, preferably in a heterozyguous state.

The one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene can comprise anucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein. The mutantcalreticulin proteins disclosed and provided herein are characterized bya common C-terminal amino acid sequence. As it is evident, for example,from Table 2 in the Example, the C-termini of the mutant calreticulinproteins have a common minimum sequence. Said common minimum sequence isshown the amino acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO. 4 and is encodedby nucleic acid molecules having a nucleic acid sequence as depicted inSEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3.

Accordingly, the mutant calreticulin protein to be used in accordancewith the present invention is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

In one embodiment, the mutant calreticulin protein to be used inaccordance with the present invention is

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3; or

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from primary myelofibrosis or is prone to suffering fromprimary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from primary myelofibrosis or is prone to suffering fromprimary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3; or

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3; or

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said one or more mutant alleles of        the calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said one or more mutant alleles of        the calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3; or

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4.

The mutant calreticulin proteins provided and to be used herein havecharacteristic C-termini, which are shown in SEQ ID NO:s 4, 8, 12, 16,20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, and 144.These C-termini comprise the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4.

The mutant calreticulin protein can, in accordance with the above, beselected from the group consisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16,20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16,20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16,20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said one or more mutant alleles of        the calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16,20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

In one embodiment, the mutant calreticulin protein is selected from thegroup consisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from primary myelofibrosis or is prone to suffering fromprimary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said one or more mutant alleles of        the calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144.

Herein, 36 types of mutant calreticulin protein have been identified(see Table 2 showing C-termini of the full-length mutant calreticulinproteins). These mutant proteins are unified by their commoncharacteristic C-terminus as shown in SEQ ID NO. 4. The full-lengthsequences of the mutant calreticulin proteins are shown in SEQ ID NOs:148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200,204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256,260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, and 288.

Accordingly, the mutant calreticulin protein provided and to be usedherein can be selected from the group consisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153,154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171,173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190,191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209,210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227,229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246,247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265,266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283,285, 286, or 287;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200,204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256,260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156,160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212,216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268,272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from primary myelofibrosis or is prone to suffering fromprimary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153,154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171,173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190,191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209,210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227,229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246,247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265,266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283,285, 286, or 287;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200,204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256,260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156,160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212,216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268,272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153,154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171,173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190,191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209,210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227,229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246,247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265,266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283,285, 286, or 287;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200,204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256,260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156,160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212,216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268,272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said one or more mutant alleles of        the calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153,154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171,173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190,191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209,210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227,229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246,247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265,266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283,285, 286, or 287;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200,204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256,260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156,160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212,216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268,272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

In one embodiment, the mutant calreticulin protein provided and to beused herein can be selected from the group consisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153,154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171,173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190,191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209,210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227,229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246,247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265,266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283,285, 286, or 287; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200,204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256,260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from primary myelofibrosis or is prone to suffering fromprimary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153,154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171,173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190,191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209,210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227,229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246,247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265,266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283,285, 286, or 287; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200,204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256,260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153,154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171,173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190,191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209,210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227,229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246,247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265,266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283,285, 286, or 287; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200,204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256,260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said one or more mutant alleles of        the calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153,154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171,173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190,191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209,210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227,229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246,247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265,266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283,285, 286, or 287; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200,204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256,260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288.

It has been shown herein that the identified mutations occur in exon 9of the calreticulin gene. The following relates therefore to themutations in the wild-type calreticulin gene and in exon 9 thereof.

The wild-type calreticulin gene is well known. Its nucleic acid sequenceand amino acid sequence can be obtained from databases like NCBI underaccession number NG_029662.1 (gene) and NP_004334.1 (protein).

An exemplary nucleic acid sequence of the wild-type calreticulin gene isshown in SEQ ID NO: 289. The corresponding amino acid sequence is shownin SEQ ID NO: 290.

Accordingly, the wild-type calreticulin gene can comprise a sequenceselected from the group consisting of:

a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 290;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 289;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The one or more mutant allele of the calreticulin gene can be in aregion encompassing exon 9 of the above described calreticulin gene. Thewild-type nucleic acid sequence of exon 9 of the calreticulin gene isshown in SEQ ID NO:435. The corresponding wild-type amino acid sequenceis shown SEQ ID NO:436.

In accordance with the above, exon 9 of the wild-type calreticulin genecan comprise a sequence selected from the group consisting of:

a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO:436;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO:435;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

As shown herein (see, for example, Table 2), the herein provided mutantalleles of the calreticulin genes have a frameshift mutation compared tothe wild-type calreticulin gene. The frameshift mutation can be in exon9 of the wild-type calreticulin gene. Due to the frameshift mutation,the open reading frame of the wild-type calreticulin gene is no longerused, but an alternative frame 1, which leads to the generation of thecharacteristic C-terminus of the mutant calreticulin proteins (thecommon minimum amino acid sequence of the mutant proteins is shown inSEQ ID NO. 4).

The frameshift mutation can be caused by the deletion of one or morenucleotides, by the insertion of two or more nucleotides or acombination of insertion and deletion of one or more nucleotides,provided that the mutant protein comprises the characteristic C-terminus(as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4) or a fragment thereof.

For example, the frameshift mutation is (or is caused by) the deletionof one nucleotide from the coding sequence of the wild-type calreticulingene, particularly from exon 9 thereof, or the insertion of twonucleotides into the coding sequence of the wild-type calreticulin gene,particularly into exon 9 thereof.

For example, (1+(3×n₀)) nucleotides can be deleted from the calreticulingene (or from exon 9 thereof), whereby no can be any natural numberincluding zero. Non-limiting examples of the number of nucleotides thatcan be deleted from the calreticulin gene (or from exon 9 thereof) togenerate a nucleic acid encoding the herein provided mutant calreticulinproteins are 1, 4, 19, 22, 31, 34, 46, 52 nucleotides.

Likewise, the frameshift mutation can be (or can be caused by) theinsertion of two nucleotides into the coding sequence of the wild-typecalreticulin gene, particularly in exon 9 thereof. Accordingly,(2+(3×n₀)) nucleotides can be inserted into the calreticulin gene (orinto exon 9 thereof), whereby no can be any natural number includingzero. For example, 5 nucleotides can be inserted into the calreticulingene (or into exon 9 thereof) to generate a nucleic acid encoding theherein provided mutant calreticulin proteins.

The frameshift mutation can also be caused by a combination of insertionand deletion of one or more nucleotides into/from the wild-typecalreticulin gene (or into/from exon 9 thereof), provided that theresulting mutant protein comprises the characteristic C-terminus (asshown in SEQ ID NO: 4) or a fragment thereof.

For example, the frameshift mutation can be (or can be caused by) thedeletion of one nucleotide from the coding sequence of the wild-typecalreticulin gene, particularly from exon 9 thereof, and by theinsertion of six nucleotides into the coding sequence of the wild-typecalreticulin gene, particularly into exon 9 thereof.

For example, the frameshift mutation can be (or can be caused by) thedeletion of two nucleotides from the coding sequence of the wild-typecalreticulin gene, particularly from exon 9 thereof, and by theinsertion of four nucleotides into the coding sequence of the wild-typecalreticulin gene, particularly into exon 9 thereof.

For example, the frameshift mutation can be (or can be caused by) thedeletion of three nucleotides from the coding sequence of the wild-typecalreticulin gene, particularly from exon 9 thereof, and by theinsertion of five nucleotides into the coding sequence of the wild-typecalreticulin gene, particularly into exon 9 thereof.

For example, the frameshift mutation can be (or can be caused by) thedeletion of 12 nucleotides from the coding sequence of the wild-typecalreticulin gene, particularly from exon 9 thereof, and by theinsertion of 5 nucleotides into the coding sequence of the wild-typecalreticulin gene, particularly into exon 9 thereof.

For example, the frameshift mutation can be (or can be caused by) thedeletion of 18 nucleotides from the coding sequence of the wild-typecalreticulin gene, particularly from exon 9 thereof, and by theinsertion of 11 nucleotides into the coding sequence of the wild-typecalreticulin gene, particularly into exon 9 thereof.

For example, the frameshift mutation can be (or can be caused by) thedeletion of 18 nucleotides from the coding sequence of the wild-typecalreticulin gene, particularly from exon 9 thereof, and by theinsertion of 14 nucleotides into the coding sequence of the wild-typecalreticulin gene, particularly into exon 9 thereof.

For example, the frameshift mutation can be (or can be caused by) thedeletion of 20 nucleotides from the coding sequence of the wild-typecalreticulin gene, particularly from exon 9 thereof, and by theinsertion of 1 nucleotide into the coding sequence of the wild-typecalreticulin gene, particularly into exon 9 thereof.

For example, the frameshift mutation can be (or can be caused by) thedeletion of 28 nucleotides from the coding sequence of the wild-typecalreticulin gene, particularly from exon 9 thereof, and by theinsertion of 6 nucleotides into the coding sequence of the wild-typecalreticulin gene, particularly into exon 9 thereof.

For example, the frameshift mutation can be (or can be caused by) thedeletion of 35 nucleotides from the coding sequence of the wild-typecalreticulin gene, particularly from exon 9 thereof, and by theinsertion of 1 nucleotide into the coding sequence of the wild-typecalreticulin gene, particularly into exon 9 thereof.

For example, the frameshift mutation can be (or can be caused by) thedeletion of 36 nucleotides from the coding sequence of the wild-typecalreticulin gene, particularly from exon 9 thereof, and by theinsertion of 2 nucleotide into the coding sequence of the wild-typecalreticulin gene, particularly into exon 9 thereof.

Further combinations of insertion/deletion inventions that result in thegeneration of the characteristic C-terminus of the mutant calreticulinproteins (the common minimum amino acid sequence of the mutant proteinsis shown in SEQ ID NO. 4) or of a fragment thereof are readilyconceivable.

Due to the above described insertions, deletions and combinations ofinsertions/deletions, a frameshift is introduced into the (codingsequence of the) wild-type calreticulin gene and particularly in exon 9thereof. Accordingly, the mutant calreticulin protein disclosed hereinand to be used in accordance with the present invention comprises amutant amino acid stretch encoded by these mutant exon 9 sequences.

Accordingly, the mutant calreticulin protein can be selected from thegroup consisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302,306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358,362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414,418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from primary myelofibrosis or is prone to suffering fromprimary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302,306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358,362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414,418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302,306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358,362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414,418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said one or more mutant alleles of        the calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302,306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358,362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414,418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

In one embodiment, the mutant calreticulin protein is selected from thegroup consisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from primary myelofibrosis or is prone to suffering fromprimary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said one or more mutant alleles of        the calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434.

The presence of the one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecan be assessed on the genomic level, the mRNA level or the proteinlevel.

If the presence of the one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulingene is to be assessed on the genomic level, the mutant allele cancomprise or consist of DNA, preferably genomic DNA.

For example, the mutant allele can comprise a nucleic acid selected fromthe group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108,112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164,168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220,224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276,280, 284, 288; 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334,338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390,394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57, 61, 65,69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89, 93, 97, 101, 105, 109, 113, 117, 121, 125, 129,133, 137, 141, 145, 149, 153, 157, 161, 165, 169, 173, 177, 181, 185,189, 193, 197, 201, 205, 209, 213, 217, 221, 225, 229, 233, 237, 241,245, 249, 253, 257, 261, 265, 269, 273, 277, 281, 285, 291, 295, 299,303, 307, 311, 315, 319, 323, 327, 331, 335, 339, 343, 347, 351, 355,359, 363, 367, 371, 375, 379, 383, 387, 391, 395, 399, 403, 407, 411,415, 419, 423, 427, or 431;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein asdefined herein above, wherein said mutant allele comprises a nucleicacid selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108,112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164,168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220,224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276,280, 284, 288; 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334,338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390,394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57, 61, 65,69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89, 93, 97, 101, 105, 109, 113, 117, 121, 125, 129,133, 137, 141, 145, 149, 153, 157, 161, 165, 169, 173, 177, 181, 185,189, 193, 197, 201, 205, 209, 213, 217, 221, 225, 229, 233, 237, 241,245, 249, 253, 257, 261, 265, 269, 273, 277, 281, 285, 291, 295, 299,303, 307, 311, 315, 319, 323, 327, 331, 335, 339, 343, 347, 351, 355,359, 363, 367, 371, 375, 379, 383, 387, 391, 395, 399, 403, 407, 411,415, 419, 423, 427, or 431;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein asdefined herein above,

wherein said mutant allele comprises a nucleic acid selected from thegroup consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108,112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164,168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220,224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276,280, 284, 288; 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334,338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390,394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57, 61, 65,69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89, 93, 97, 101, 105, 109, 113, 117, 121, 125, 129,133, 137, 141, 145, 149, 153, 157, 161, 165, 169, 173, 177, 181, 185,189, 193, 197, 201, 205, 209, 213, 217, 221, 225, 229, 233, 237, 241,245, 249, 253, 257, 261, 265, 269, 273, 277, 281, 285, 291, 295, 299,303, 307, 311, 315, 319, 323, 327, 331, 335, 339, 343, 347, 351, 355,359, 363, 367, 371, 375, 379, 383, 387, 391, 395, 399, 403, 407, 411,415, 419, 423, 427, or 431;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said one or more mutant alleles of        the calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein asdefined herein above,

wherein said mutant allele comprises a nucleic acid selected from thegroup consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108,112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164,168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220,224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276,280, 284, 288; 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334,338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390,394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57, 61, 65,69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89, 93, 97, 101, 105, 109, 113, 117, 121, 125, 129,133, 137, 141, 145, 149, 153, 157, 161, 165, 169, 173, 177, 181, 185,189, 193, 197, 201, 205, 209, 213, 217, 221, 225, 229, 233, 237, 241,245, 249, 253, 257, 261, 265, 269, 273, 277, 281, 285, 291, 295, 299,303, 307, 311, 315, 319, 323, 327, 331, 335, 339, 343, 347, 351, 355,359, 363, 367, 371, 375, 379, 383, 387, 391, 395, 399, 403, 407, 411,415, 419, 423, 427, or 431;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

In one embodiment, said mutant allele comprises a nucleic acid selectedfrom the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108,112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164,168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220,224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276,280, 284, 288; 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334,338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390,394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434; and

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57, 61, 65,69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89, 93, 97, 101, 105, 109, 113, 117, 121, 125, 129,133, 137, 141, 145, 149, 153, 157, 161, 165, 169, 173, 177, 181, 185,189, 193, 197, 201, 205, 209, 213, 217, 221, 225, 229, 233, 237, 241,245, 249, 253, 257, 261, 265, 269, 273, 277, 281, 285, 291, 295, 299,303, 307, 311, 315, 319, 323, 327, 331, 335, 339, 343, 347, 351, 355,359, 363, 367, 371, 375, 379, 383, 387, 391, 395, 399, 403, 407, 411,415, 419, 423, 427, or 431.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from primary myelofibrosis or is prone to suffering fromprimary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein asdefined herein above,

wherein said mutant allele comprises a nucleic acid selected from thegroup consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108,112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164,168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220,224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276,280, 284, 288; 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334,338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390,394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434; and

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57, 61, 65,69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89, 93, 97, 101, 105, 109, 113, 117, 121, 125, 129,133, 137, 141, 145, 149, 153, 157, 161, 165, 169, 173, 177, 181, 185,189, 193, 197, 201, 205, 209, 213, 217, 221, 225, 229, 233, 237, 241,245, 249, 253, 257, 261, 265, 269, 273, 277, 281, 285, 291, 295, 299,303, 307, 311, 315, 319, 323, 327, 331, 335, 339, 343, 347, 351, 355,359, 363, 367, 371, 375, 379, 383, 387, 391, 395, 399, 403, 407, 411,415, 419, 423, 427, or 431.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein asdefined above,

wherein said mutant calreticulin allele comprises a nucleic acidselected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108,112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164,168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220,224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276,280, 284, 288; 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334,338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390,394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434; and

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57, 61, 65,69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89, 93, 97, 101, 105, 109, 113, 117, 121, 125, 129,133, 137, 141, 145, 149, 153, 157, 161, 165, 169, 173, 177, 181, 185,189, 193, 197, 201, 205, 209, 213, 217, 221, 225, 229, 233, 237, 241,245, 249, 253, 257, 261, 265, 269, 273, 277, 281, 285, 291, 295, 299,303, 307, 311, 315, 319, 323, 327, 331, 335, 339, 343, 347, 351, 355,359, 363, 367, 371, 375, 379, 383, 387, 391, 395, 399, 403, 407, 411,415, 419, 423, 427, or 431.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said one or more mutant alleles of        the calreticulin gene is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin genecomprises a nucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein asdefined herein above,

wherein said mutant allele comprises a nucleic acid selected from thegroup consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108,112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164,168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220,224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276,280, 284, 288; 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334,338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390,394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434; and

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57, 61, 65,69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89, 93, 97, 101, 105, 109, 113, 117, 121, 125, 129,133, 137, 141, 145, 149, 153, 157, 161, 165, 169, 173, 177, 181, 185,189, 193, 197, 201, 205, 209, 213, 217, 221, 225, 229, 233, 237, 241,245, 249, 253, 257, 261, 265, 269, 273, 277, 281, 285, 291, 295, 299,303, 307, 311, 315, 319, 323, 327, 331, 335, 339, 343, 347, 351, 355,359, 363, 367, 371, 375, 379, 383, 387, 391, 395, 399, 403, 407, 411,415, 419, 423, 427, or 431.

Any methods routinely employed for mutational analyses can be used inaccordance with the present invention. The presence of the mutant alleleon genomic level, can, for example, be determined by sequencing (such asSanger sequencing e.g. bidirectional Sanger sequencing) and/or PCR-baseddetection strategies, such as PCR sizing assays (i.e. PCR followed byfragment analysis e.g. via agarose gel electrophoresis (likehigh-density agarose gel electrophoresis)).

Detection of a mutation in a nucleic acid can be performed by methodsknown in the art, including direct sequencing, restriction fragmentlength polymorphism identification (RFLPI) of genomic DNA, randomamplified polymorphic detection (RAPD), amplified fragment lengthpolymorphism detection (AFLPD), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNAsequencing, allele specific oligonucleotide (ASO) probes, hybridizationto DNA microarrays or beads, high resolution melting (HRM), and TaqManprobe principle. The nucleic acid can be genomic DNA, amplified genomicDNA, mRNA, cDNA, or amplified cDNA.

Sequencing is typically performed on specifically amplified nucleicacids. Fragment size analysis typically uses differences in sizes ofamplicons following PCR. High resolution melting (HRM) detects mutationsin DNA by precisely measuring the melting point of double stranded DNA.Gundry et al., “Amplicon Melting Analysis with Labeled Primers: AClosed-Tube Method for Differentiating Homozygotes and Heterozygotes”Clinical Chemistry 49: 396-406 (2003). Typically the user will use PCRto amplify the DNA region in which their mutation of interest lies. Theamplified DNA is then precisely heated from around 50° C. up to around95° C., until the strands separate. This process is typically monitoredwith fluorescent dyes.

One approach that can be employed herein uses fragment size analysis,followed or not by sequencing. As mentioned above, PCR assays using e.g.genomic DNA of mutant calreticulin as template can be used foramplification of the DNA. Subsequently the amplified DNA can be subjectto fragment analysis e.g. via agarose gel electrophoresis.

Methods for determining the presence of the mutant allele on mRNA levelor protein level are described further below.

For mRNA, many of the same methods as used for DNA can be performedafter reverse transcription to generate cDNA. Other methods includeRealTime PCR, ReverseTranscriptase PCR, Whole Transcriptome ShotgunSequencing (RNAseq), in situ hybridization or micro-arrays. Real TimePCR simultaneously amplifies and detects a sequence of interest. The useof specific primers and fluorescent labels can distinguish between wildtype and mutations.

Proteins can be analyzed by methods that include immunohistochemistry(IHC), immunoassay, gel- or blot-based methods, mass spectrometry, flowcytometry, or fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS). Many methodsmonitor the binding of an antibody or set of antibodies to a protein ofinterest that detect differences between a wild type and mutant forms.Mass spectrometry detects differences in the size of a protein and itsfragments that reveal information about the underlying sequence. Forexample, polyclonal antibodies that specifically bind to mutantcalreticulin protein can be used, as shown in Example 2.

The present invention also takes advantage of the determination of thepresence of a gene product of one or more mutant alleles of thecalreticulin gene in order to diagnose myeloid malignancy.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a myeloid malignancy or is prone to suffering froma myeloid malignancy, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from a myeloid malignancy or        is prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy when said gene        product is present.

The methods provided herein can comprise a step of obtaining a samplefrom the patient.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a myeloid malignancy or is prone to suffering froma myeloid malignancy, said method comprising

-   -   obtaining a sample from said patient;    -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from a myeloid malignancy or        is prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy when said gene        product is present.

The method provided herein comprises determining the presence of a geneproduct of preferably solely one mutant allele of the calreticulin genein a sample from the patient. Preferably, the method is an in vitromethod.

Preferably, the method of the invention relates solely to the assessmentwhether a patient suffers from a myeloid malignancy.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a myeloid malignancy, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from a myeloid when said        gene product is present.

Myeloid malignancies include myeloproliferative neoplasms andmyelodysplastic syndromes. It is preferred herein that the myeloidmalignancy is a myeloproliferative neoplasm, particularly primarymyelofibrosis (PMF) or essential thrombocythemia (ET), or amyelodysplastic syndrome, particularly refractory anemia with ringedsideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from primary myelofibrosis or is prone to suffering fromprimary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present.

The one or more mutant alleles can comprise a nucleic acid encoding amutant calreticulin protein.

The mutant calreticulin protein can be selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4.

The mutant calreticulin protein can be selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16,20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16,20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144;

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16,20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16,20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144.

The mutant calreticulin protein can be selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302,306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358,362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414,418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302,306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358,362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414,418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302,306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358,362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414,418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302,306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358,362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414,418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein,

wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected from the groupconsisting of wherein said mutant calreticulin protein is selected fromthe group consisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434.

The mutant allele can comprise a nucleic acid selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108,112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164,168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220,224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276,280, 284, 288; 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334,338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390,394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57, 61, 65,69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89, 93, 97, 101, 105, 109, 113, 117, 121, 125, 129,133, 137, 141, 145, 149, 153, 157, 161, 165, 169, 173, 177, 181, 185,189, 193, 197, 201, 205, 209, 213, 217, 221, 225, 229, 233, 237, 241,245, 249, 253, 257, 261, 265, 269, 273, 277, 281, 285, 291, 295, 299,303, 307, 311, 315, 319, 323, 327, 331, 335, 339, 343, 347, 351, 355,359, 363, 367, 371, 375, 379, 383, 387, 391, 395, 399, 403, 407, 411,415, 419, 423, 427, or 431;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The gene product can be an mRNA. For example, the gene product can be anmRNA encoding the C-terminal amino acid sequence of the herein providedmutant calreticulin proteins.

Accordingly, the gene product can comprise a nucleic acid selected fromthe group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO:4;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 3;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO:4;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 3;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO:4; and

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 3.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO:4;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 3;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO:4; and

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 3.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO:4;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 3;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO:4; and

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 3.

Said gene product can comprise a nucleic acid selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108,112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, 31, 35, 39, 43, 47, 51, 55, 59, 63, 67,71, 75, 79, 83, 87, 91, 95, 99, 103, 107, 111, 115, 119, 123, 127, 131,135, 139, or 143;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108,112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, 31, 35, 39, 43, 47, 51, 55, 59, 63, 67,71, 75, 79, 83, 87, 91, 95, 99, 103, 107, 111, 115, 119, 123, 127, 131,135, 139, or 143;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108,112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144; and

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, 31, 35, 39, 43, 47, 51, 55, 59, 63, 67,71, 75, 79, 83, 87, 91, 95, 99, 103, 107, 111, 115, 119, 123, 127, 131,135, 139, or 143.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108,112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, 31, 35, 39, 43, 47, 51, 55, 59, 63, 67,71, 75, 79, 83, 87, 91, 95, 99, 103, 107, 111, 115, 119, 123, 127, 131,135, 139, or 143;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108,112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144; and

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, 31, 35, 39, 43, 47, 51, 55, 59, 63, 67,71, 75, 79, 83, 87, 91, 95, 99, 103, 107, 111, 115, 119, 123, 127, 131,135, 139, or 143.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108,112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, 31, 35, 39, 43, 47, 51, 55, 59, 63, 67,71, 75, 79, 83, 87, 91, 95, 99, 103, 107, 111, 115, 119, 123, 127, 131,135, 139, or 143;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108,112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144; and

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, 31, 35, 39, 43, 47, 51, 55, 59, 63, 67,71, 75, 79, 83, 87, 91, 95, 99, 103, 107, 111, 115, 119, 123, 127, 131,135, 139, or 143.

The gene product can comprise a nucleic acid selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172,176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228,232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or288;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 147, 151, 155, 159, 163, 167, 171, 175, 179, 183, 187, 191, 195,199, 203, 207, 211, 215, 219, 223, 227, 231, 235, 239, 243, 247, 251,255, 259, 263, 267, 271, 275, 279, 283, or 287;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172,176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228,232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or288;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 147, 151, 155, 159, 163, 167, 171, 175, 179, 183, 187, 191, 195,199, 203, 207, 211, 215, 219, 223, 227, 231, 235, 239, 243, 247, 251,255, 259, 263, 267, 271, 275, 279, 283, or 287;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172,176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228,232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or288; and

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 147, 151, 155, 159, 163, 167, 171, 175, 179, 183, 187, 191, 195,199, 203, 207, 211, 215, 219, 223, 227, 231, 235, 239, 243, 247, 251,255, 259, 263, 267, 271, 275, 279, 283, or 287.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172,176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228,232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or288;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 147, 151, 155, 159, 163, 167, 171, 175, 179, 183, 187, 191, 195,199, 203, 207, 211, 215, 219, 223, 227, 231, 235, 239, 243, 247, 251,255, 259, 263, 267, 271, 275, 279, 283, or 287;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172,176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228,232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or288; and

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 147, 151, 155, 159, 163, 167, 171, 175, 179, 183, 187, 191, 195,199, 203, 207, 211, 215, 219, 223, 227, 231, 235, 239, 243, 247, 251,255, 259, 263, 267, 271, 275, 279, 283, or 287.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172,176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228,232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or288;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 147, 151, 155, 159, 163, 167, 171, 175, 179, 183, 187, 191, 195,199, 203, 207, 211, 215, 219, 223, 227, 231, 235, 239, 243, 247, 251,255, 259, 263, 267, 271, 275, 279, 283, or 287;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172,176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228,232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or288; and

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 147, 151, 155, 159, 163, 167, 171, 175, 179, 183, 187, 191, 195,199, 203, 207, 211, 215, 219, 223, 227, 231, 235, 239, 243, 247, 251,255, 259, 263, 267, 271, 275, 279, 283, or 287.

The gene product can comprise a nucleic acid selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318,322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374,378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or434;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 293, 297, 301, 305, 309, 313, 317, 321, 325, 329, 333, 337, 341,345, 349, 353, 357, 361, 365, 369, 373, 377, 381, 385, 389, 393, 397,401, 405, 409, 413, 417, 421, 425, 429, or 433;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318,322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374,378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or434;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 293, 297, 301, 305, 309, 313, 317, 321, 325, 329, 333, 337, 341,345, 349, 353, 357, 361, 365, 369, 373, 377, 381, 385, 389, 393, 397,401, 405, 409, 413, 417, 421, 425, 429, or 433;

a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318,322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374,378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or434; and

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 293, 297, 301, 305, 309, 313, 317, 321, 325, 329, 333, 337, 341,345, 349, 353, 357, 361, 365, 369, 373, 377, 381, 385, 389, 393, 397,401, 405, 409, 413, 417, 421, 425, 429, or 433.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318,322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374,378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or434;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 293, 297, 301, 305, 309, 313, 317, 321, 325, 329, 333, 337, 341,345, 349, 353, 357, 361, 365, 369, 373, 377, 381, 385, 389, 393, 397,401, 405, 409, 413, 417, 421, 425, 429, or 433;

a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318,322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374,378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or434; and

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 293, 297, 301, 305, 309, 313, 317, 321, 325, 329, 333, 337, 341,345, 349, 353, 357, 361, 365, 369, 373, 377, 381, 385, 389, 393, 397,401, 405, 409, 413, 417, 421, 425, 429, or 433.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318,322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374,378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or434;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 293, 297, 301, 305, 309, 313, 317, 321, 325, 329, 333, 337, 341,345, 349, 353, 357, 361, 365, 369, 373, 377, 381, 385, 389, 393, 397,401, 405, 409, 413, 417, 421, 425, 429, or 433;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318,322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374,378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or434; and

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 293, 297, 301, 305, 309, 313, 317, 321, 325, 329, 333, 337, 341,345, 349, 353, 357, 361, 365, 369, 373, 377, 381, 385, 389, 393, 397,401, 405, 409, 413, 417, 421, 425, 429, or 433.

If the gene product is mRNA, the presence or amount of said mRNA can bedetermined by routine techniques, such as RealTime PCR,ReverseTranscriptase PCR, Whole Transcriptome Shotgun Sequencing(RNAseq), sanger sequencing, in situ hybridization or micro-arrays.

Accordingly, the determination by PCR techniques such as RealTime PCR orReverseTranscriptase PCR can further comprise the steps

(i) contacting the nucleic acid in the sample with one or twooligonucleotides; and

(ii) generating an amplification product containing the target sequence.

Exemplary mutation specific probes and primers are provided and usedherein.

Examplary oligonucleotides (primers) to be used in accordance with thepresent invention are

Forward: (SEQ ID NO: 437) ACAACTTCCTCATCACCAACG and/or Reverse:(SEQ ID NO: 438) GGCCTCAGTCCAGCCCTG Forward: (SEQ ID NO: 439)GGCAAGGCCCTGAGGTGT and/or Reverse: (SEQ ID NO: 438) GGCCTCAGTCCAGCCCTG

Further suitable mutation specific probes and primers for use in thepresent invention can, for example, be derived from the cDNA sequencesof the mutated calreticulin gene. Such cDNA sequences are provided anddescribed below. Exemplary cDNA sequences that can be used in thiscontext are shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38,42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 70, 74, 78, 82, 86, 90, 94, 98, 102, 106,110, 114, 118, 122, 126, 130, 134, 138, 142, 146, 150, 154, 158, 162,166, 170, 174, 178, 182, 186, 190, 194, 198, 202, 206, 210, 214, 218,222, 226, 230, 234, 238, 242, 246, 250, 254, 258, 262, 266, 270, 274,278, 282, or 286; 292, 296, 300, 304, 308, 312, 316, 320, 324, 328, 332,336, 340, 344, 348, 352, 356, 360, 364, 368, 372, 376, 380, 384, 388,392, 396, 400, 404, 408, 412, 416, 420, 424, 428, or 432.

Further exemplary cDNA sequences that can be used for the design ofmutation specific probes and primers are depicted in the followingtable:

Sequences of mutation junctions in the cDNA sequence of CALR for the design of mutation specific probes or PCR primers. CALR mutationcDNA junction sequences in mutated positions Type 1GAAGGACAAACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGATGAT (SEQ ID NO: 440) Type 2GAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAATTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAG (SEQ ID NO: 441) Type 3GGACAAACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGAT (SEQ ID NO: 442) Type 4CAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGG (SEQ ID NO: 443) Type 5TGAAGGACAAACAGGACGAGGGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGATGA (SEQ ID NO: 444) Type 6AGGACAAACAGGACGAGGAGCGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGA (SEQ ID NO: 445) Type 7CAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAG (SEQ ID NO: 446) Type 8GGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAG (SEQ ID NO: 447) Type 9CAAGAAACGCAAAGAGGAGGAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGAT (SEQ ID NO: 448) Type 10AGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACA TGTGTC GGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAG (SEQ ID NO: 449)Type 11 AAGGACAAACAGGACGAGGA

CAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGAT (SEQ ID NO: 450) Type 12CAAACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGAC (SEQ ID NO: 451) Type 13AACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGC A GAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAG (SEQ ID NO: 452) Type 14ACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAG (SEQ ID NO: 453) Type 15CAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGAGG

AGAGGACAAGGAGGATGATG (SEQ TD NO: 454) Type 16 CAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTT CAGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAG (SEQ ID NO: 455) Type 17GGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGAGGCAG

GGACAAGGAGGATGATGAGG (SEQ ID NO: 456) Type 18GGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGAT (SEQ ID NO: 457) Type 19GGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGGAGGAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGAT (SEQ ID NO: 458) Type 20GGCTTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGA (SEQ ID NO: 459) Type 21GGCTTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAG CGTTTA AGAGGACAAGGAGGATGATGA (SEQ ID NO: 460)Type 22 CTTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAACGCAAAGAGGAGGAGGAGG (SEQ ID NO: 461)Type 23 CTTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGAC TGCGT GAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGAC (SEQ IDNO: 462) Type 24CTTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGG (SEQ ID NO: 463) Type 25TAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAA A AGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGATG (SEQ ID NO: 464) Type 26TAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAAAAACGCAAAGAGGAGGAGGAG (SEQ ID NO: 465) Type 27AAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAAG TGTTT CGCAAAGAGGAGGAGGAGGCA (SEQ ID NO: 466)Type 28 GGAAGAAGACAAGAAACGCAAAAGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAA (SEQ ID NO: 467)Type 29 GAAGACAAGAAACGCAAAGAG CCTCCTCTTTGTCT AAGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAA(SEQ ID NO: 468) Type 30 AGACAAGAAACGCAAAGAGGA CCATCCTTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGA (SEQ ID NO: 469) Type 31 AGAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGG

CAATTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAG (SEQ ID NO: 470) Type 32GAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGAC TGTC GGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGA (SEQ ID NO: 471)Type 33 GAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAATGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAG (SEQ ID NO: 472)Type 34 AGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACA CTTGTC GGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGA (SEQ IDNO: 473) Type 35 AGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACA TTTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGA (SEQ ID NO: 474) Type 36AGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGA (SEQ ID NO: 475) Boldletters indicate the borders of a deletion event; underlined lettersindicate inserted sequences; Bold and italic letters indicate singlenucleotide variants

The following relates to embodiments, wherein the gene product is aprotein/polypeptide.

The gene product can comprise a polypeptide selected from the groupconsisting of

a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4.

The gene product can comprise a polypeptide selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16,20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is a polypeptide selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16,20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is a polypeptide selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is a polypeptide selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16,20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is a polypeptide selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16,20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144.

The gene product can comprise a polypeptide selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153,154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171,173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190,191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209,210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227,229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246,247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265,266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283,285, 286, or 287;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200,204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256,260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156,160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212,216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268,272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153,154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171,173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190,191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209,210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227,229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246,247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265,266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283,285, 286, or 287;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200,204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256,260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156,160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212,216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268,272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153,154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171,173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190,191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209,210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227,229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246,247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265,266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283,285, 286, or 287;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200,204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256,260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted; and

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156,160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212,216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268,272, 276, 280, 284, or 288.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153,154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171,173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190,191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209,210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227,229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246,247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265,266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283,285, 286, or 287;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200,204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256,260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156,160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212,216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268,272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153,154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171,173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190,191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209,210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227,229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246,247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265,266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283,285, 286, or 287; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200,204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256,260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153,154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171,173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190,191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209,210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227,229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246,247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265,266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283,285, 286, or 287;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200,204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256,260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156,160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212,216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268,272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153,154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171,173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190,191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209,210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227,229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246,247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265,266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283,285, 286, or 287; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200,204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256,260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288.

The gene product can comprise a polypeptide selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302,306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358,362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414,418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302,306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358,362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414,418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a primary myelofibrosis or is prone to sufferingfrom primary myelofibrosis, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from primary myelofibrosis        or is prone to suffering from primary myelofibrosis when said        gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302,306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358,362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414,418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from essential thrombocythemia or is prone to sufferingfrom essential thrombocythemia, said method comprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from essential        thrombocythemia or is prone to suffering from essential        thrombocythemia when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302,306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358,362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414,418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether apatient suffers from a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts andthrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to suffering from refractory anemiawith ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T), said methodcomprising

-   -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from refractory anemia with        ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T) or is prone to        suffering from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and        thrombocythemia (RARS-T) when said gene product is present,

wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acidencoding a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above,

wherein said gene product is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433; and

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434.

If the gene product is protein, the presence or amount of said proteincan be determined routine techniques, such as by immunohistochemistry(IHC), by immunoassay, gel- or blot-based methods, IHC, massspectrometry, flow cytometry, or FACS.

As the CALR mutations cause a frameshift of the translated polypeptide,a characteristic C-terminal amino acid sequence is present in themutated calreticulin proteins as described and provided herein. Thischaracteristic amino acid sequence alters the overall charge of theprotein. It also alters the migration of the mutated calreticulin duringprotein electrophoresis. One can take advantage of this difference incharge and/or in migration behaviour in order to determine the presenceof a mutated calreticulin protein. For example, antibodies specific tomutant calreticulin protein can be used to identify said mutant proteine.g. by Western immunoblotting. Optionally, also antibodies specific tothe wild type calreticulin protein can be used (in addition) as acontrol. Such antibodies can include polyclonal and monoclonalantibodies which can be prepared by routine techniques.

Preferably, the patient is a human patient. The patient can be suspectedof suffering from a myeloid malignancy or he/she can be suspected ofbeing prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy.

The following relates to samples to be used in accordance with thepresent invention. The sample can be a bone marrow sample, a bloodsample or a saliva sample. The sample is preferably a blood sample. Theblood sample preferably comprises peripheral granulocytes. The samplecan be obtained from a patient by routine techniques, for example, bybiopsy.

The herein above provided method can further comprise administering aninhibitor of the mutant calreticulin as defined herein above to thepatient.

The following relates to cDNA encoding the herein provided mutantcalreticulin proteins.

The present invention relates to a nucleic acid selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO:4;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 2;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a nucleic acid selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108,112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66,70, 74, 78, 82, 86, 90, 94, 98, 102, 106, 110, 114, 118, 122, 126, 130,134, 138, or 142;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a nucleic acid selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172,176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228,232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or288;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 146, 150, 154, 158, 162, 166, 170, 174, 178, 182, 186, 190, 194,198, 202, 206, 210, 214, 218, 222, 226, 230, 234, 238, 242, 246, 250,254, 258, 262, 266, 270, 274, 278, 282, or 286;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a nucleic acid is selected from thegroup consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318,322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374,378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or434;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 292, 296, 300, 304, 308, 312, 316, 320, 324, 328, 332, 336, 340,344, 348, 352, 356, 360, 364, 368, 372, 376, 380, 384, 388, 392, 396,400, 404, 408, 412, 416, 420, 424, 428, or 432;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

Preferably, the above defined nucleic acid is cDNA.

The following relates to mRNA encoding the herein provided mutantcalreticulin proteins.

The present invention relates to a nucleic acid selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO:4;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 3;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a nucleic acid is selected from thegroup consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108,112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, 31, 35, 39, 43, 47, 51, 55, 59, 63, 67,71, 75, 79, 83, 87, 91, 95, 99, 103, 107, 111, 115, 119, 123, 127, 131,135, 139, or 143;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a nucleic acid is selected from thegroup consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172,176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228,232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or288;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 147, 151, 155, 159, 163, 167, 171, 175, 179, 183, 187, 191, 195,199, 203, 207, 211, 215, 219, 223, 227, 231, 235, 239, 243, 247, 251,255, 259, 263, 267, 271, 275, 279, 283, or 287;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a nucleic acid is selected from thegroup consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318,322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374,378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or434;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 293, 297, 301, 305, 309, 313, 317, 321, 325, 329, 333, 337, 341,345, 349, 353, 357, 361, 365, 369, 373, 377, 381, 385, 389, 393, 397,401, 405, 409, 413, 417, 421, 425, 429, or 433;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The above defined nucleic acid is preferably mRNA.

The following relates to genomic DNA encoding the herein provided mutantcalreticulin proteins.

The present invention relates to a nucleic acid selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 1;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a nucleic acid selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108,112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57, 61, 65,69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89, 93, 97, 101, 105, 109, 113, 117, 121, 125, 129,133, 137, or 141;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a nucleic acid is selected from thegroup consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172,176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228,232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or288;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 145, 149, 153, 157, 161, 165, 169, 173, 177, 181, 185, 189, 193,197, 201, 205, 209, 213, 217, 221, 225, 229, 233, 237, 241, 245, 249,253, 257, 261, 265, 269, 273, 277, 281, or 285;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The present invention relates to a nucleic acid is selected from thegroup consisting of

(a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318,322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374,378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or434;

(b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted in SEQID NO: 291, 295, 299, 303, 307, 311, 315, 319, 323, 327, 331, 335, 339,343, 347, 351, 355, 359, 363, 367, 371, 375, 379, 383, 387, 391, 395,399, 403, 407, 411, 415, 419, 423, 427, or 431;

(c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or (b);

(d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at least 70%identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acids of any one of(a) to (c); and

(e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is degenerateas a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid of any one of (a) to (d).

The above defined nucleic acid is preferably genomic DNA.

The following relates to herein provided mutant calreticulin proteins.

The present invention relates to a protein selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a protein selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14,15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62,63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86,87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107,109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126,127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132,136, 140, or 144;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16,20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a protein selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153,154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171,173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190,191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209,210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227,229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246,247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265,266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283,285, 286, or 287;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200,204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256,260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156,160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212,216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268,272, 276, 280, 284, or 288;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a protein selected from the groupconsisting of

(a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acidsequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299,300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317,319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336,337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373,375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411,412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429,431, 432, or 433;

(b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino acidsare deleted, inserted, added or substituted;

(d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a proteincomprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 294, 298, 302,306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358,362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414,418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;

(e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary strandof nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

(f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one of(a) to (e); and

(g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleicacid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The meaning of the terms “polypeptide”, “protein” and “nucleic acidsequence(s)/molecule(s)” are well known in the art and are usedaccordingly in context of the present invention. For example, “nucleicacid sequence(s)/molecule(s)” as used herein refer(s) to all forms ofnaturally occurring or recombinantly generated types of nucleic acidsand/or nucleic acid sequences/molecules as well as to chemicallysynthesized nucleic acid sequences/molecules. This term also encompassesnucleic acid analogues and nucleic acid derivatives. The term “nucleicacid sequence(s)/molecule(s)” can refer to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)and ribonucleic acid (RNA). The “nucleic acid sequence(s)/molecule(s)”may be made by synthetic chemical methodology known to one of ordinaryskill in the art, or by the use of recombinant technology, or may beisolated from natural sources, or by a combination thereof. The DNA andRNA may optionally comprise unnatural nucleotides and may be single ordouble stranded. “Nucleic acid sequence(s)/molecule(s)” also refers tosense and anti-sense DNA and RNA, that is, a nucleotide sequence whichis complementary to a specific sequence of nucleotides in DNA and/orRNA. Furthermore, the term “nucleic acid sequence(s)/molecule(s)” mayrefer to DNA or RNA or hybrids thereof or any modification thereof thatis known in the state of the art (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,525,711,4,711,955, 5,792,608 or EP 302175 for examples of modifications). Thenucleic acid molecule(s) may be single- or double-stranded, linear orcircular, natural or synthetic, and without any size limitation. Forinstance, the nucleic acid molecule(s) may be genomic DNA, cDNA, mRNA,antisense RNA, or a DNA encoding such RNAs or chimeroplasts(Colestrauss, Science (1996), 1386-1389). Said nucleic acid molecule(s)may be in the form of a plasmid or of viral DNA or RNA. “Nucleic acidsequence(s)/molecule(s)” may also refer to (an) oligonucleotide(s),wherein any of the state of the art modifications such asphosphothioates or peptide nucleic acids (PNA) are included.

Nucleic acid sequence with a certain level of identiy to the hereinprovided human sequences can be identified by the skilled person usingmethods known in the art, e.g. by using hybridization assays or by usingalignments, either manually or by using computer programs such as thosementioned herein below in connection with the definition of the term“hybridization” and degrees of homology.

The nucleic acid sequence may be at least 70% identical to the nucleicacid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO. 1. More preferably, the nucleicacid sequence is at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97% or 98%identical to the nucleic acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO. 1, whereinthe higher values are preferred. Most preferably, the nucleic acidsequence is at least 99% identical to the nucleic acid sequence as shownin SEQ ID NO. 1.

The nucleic acid sequence may be at least 70% identical to the nucleicacid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO. 2. More preferably, the nucleicacid sequence is at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97% or 98%identical to the nucleic acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO. 2, whereinthe higher values are preferred. Most preferably, the nucleic acidsequence is at least 99% identical to the nucleic acid sequence as shownin SEQ ID NO. 2.

The nucleic acid sequence may be at least 70% identical to the nucleicacid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO. 3. More preferably, the nucleicacid sequence is at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97% or 98%identical to the nucleic acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO. 3, whereinthe higher values are preferred. Most preferably, the nucleic acidsequence is at least 99% identical to the nucleic acid sequence as shownin SEQ ID NO. 3.

The nucleic acid sequence may be at least 70% identical to the nucleicacid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13,14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37,38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61,62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85,86, 87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106,107, 109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125,126, 127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, 143,145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153, 154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162,163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181,182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199,201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209, 210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218,219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237,238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246, 247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255,257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274,275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283, 285, 286, 287, 291, 292, 293, 295,296, 297, 299, 300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313,315, 316, 317, 319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332,333, 335, 336, 337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351,352, 353, 355, 356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369,371, 372, 373, 375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388,389, 391, 392, 393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407,408, 409, 411, 412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425,427, 428, 429, 431, 432, or 433.

More preferably, the nucleic acid sequence is at least 90%, 91%, 92%,93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97% or 98% identical to the nucleic acid sequence asshown in SEQ ID NOs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18,19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42,43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66,67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 89, 90,91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110, 111,113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126, 127, 129, 130,131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, 143, 145, 146, 147, 149,150, 151, 153, 154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167,169, 170, 171, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186,187, 189, 190, 191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205,206, 207, 209, 210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223,225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242,243, 245, 246, 247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261,262, 263, 265, 266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279,281, 282, 283, 285, 286, 287, 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299, 300,301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317, 319,320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336, 337,339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355, 356,357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373, 375,376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392, 393,395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411, 412,413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 431,432, or 433, wherein the higher values are preferred.

Most preferably, the nucleic acid sequence is at least 99% identical tothe nucleic acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9,10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33,34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57,58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81,82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103,105, 106, 107, 109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122,123, 125, 126, 127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141,142, 143, 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153, 154, 155, 157, 158, 159,161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178,179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 193, 194, 195, 197,198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209, 210, 211, 213, 214, 215,217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231, 233, 234,235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246, 247, 249, 250, 251, 253,254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 267, 269, 270, 271,273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283, 285, 286, 287, 291, 292,293, 295, 296, 297, 299, 300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311,312, 313, 315, 316, 317, 319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329,331, 332, 333, 335, 336, 337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348,349, 351, 352, 353, 355, 356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367,368, 369, 371, 372, 373, 375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385,387, 388, 389, 391, 392, 393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404,405, 407, 408, 409, 411, 412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423,424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 431, 432, or 433.

Hybridization assays for the characterization of nucleic acids with acertain level of identity to the nucleic acid sequences as providedherein are well known in the art; see e.g. Sambrook, Russell “MolecularCloning, A Laboratory Manual”, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, N.Y.(2001); Ausubel, “Current Protocols in Molecular Biology”, GreenPublishing Associates and Wiley Interscience, N.Y. (1989). The term“hybridization” or “hybridizes” as used herein may relate tohybridizations under stringent or non-stringent conditions. If notfurther specified, the conditions are preferably non-stringent. Saidhybridization conditions may be established according to conventionalprotocols described, e.g., in Sambrook (2001) loc. cit.; Ausubel (1989)loc. cit., or Higgins and Hames (Eds.) “Nucleic acid hybridization, apractical approach” IRL Press Oxford, Washington D.C., (1985). Thesetting of conditions is well within the skill of the artisan and can bedetermined according to protocols described in the art. Thus, thedetection of only specifically hybridizing sequences will usuallyrequire stringent hybridization and washing conditions such as, forexample, the highly stringent hybridization conditions of 0.1×SSC, 0.1%SDS at 65° C. or 2×SSC, 60° C., 0.1% SDS. Low stringent hybridizationconditions for the detection of homologous or not exactly complementarysequences may, for example, be set at 6×SSC, 1% SDS at 65° C. As is wellknown, the length of the probe and the composition of the nucleic acidto be determined constitute further parameters of the hybridizationconditions. It is envisaged herein that a nucleic acid can be a primeror probe, for example, a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringentconditions to the complementary strand of the nucleic acid of a mutantcalreticulin (or of a fragment thereof as defined herein) or of thenucleic acid encoding a mutant calreticulin protein (or encoding theC-terminus thereof) or of exon 9 of the mutant calreticulin and the likeas defined and provided herein above. Primers and probes are often inthe range of 10-30 nucleotides. Thus, the invention relates to a nucleicacid (like a primer or probe) hybridizing under stringent conditions tothe complementary strand of the nucleic acid mutant calreticulin asdefined and provided herein above, wherein said hybridizing nucleic acidis smaller than 50, 49, 48, 47, 46, 45, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40, 39, 38, 37,36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, or 20nucleotides and is larger than 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15nucleotides. Preferably, the nucleic acid has a length of 10 to 35nucleotides, more preferably 15 to 25 nucleotides, particularlypreferred a length of 18 to 21, e.g. 18, 19, 20 or 21 nucleotides.

In accordance with the present invention, the terms “homology” or“percent homology” or “identical” or “percent identity” or “percentageidentity” or “sequence identity” in the context of two or more nucleicacid sequences refers to two or more sequences or subsequences that arethe same, or that have a specified percentage of nucleotides that arethe same (at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, most preferably at least 90%,91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97% or 98% identity, most preferably atleast 99% identity), when compared and aligned for maximumcorrespondence over a window of comparison (preferably over the fulllength), or over a designated region as measured using a sequencecomparison algorithm as known in the art, or by manual alignment andvisual inspection. Sequences having, for example, 75% to 90% or greatersequence identity may be considered to be substantially identical. Sucha definition also applies to the complement of a test sequence.Preferably the described identity exists over a region that is at leastabout 15 to 25 nucleotides in length, more preferably, over a regionthat is at least about 50 to 100 nucleotides in length and mostpreferably over the full length. Those having skill in the art will knowhow to determine percent identity between/among sequences using, forexample, algorithms such as those based on CLUSTALW computer program(Thompson Nucl. Acids Res. 2 (1994), 4673-4680) or FASTDB (Brutlag Comp.App. Biosci. 6 (1990), 237-245), as known in the art.

Although the FASTDB algorithm typically does not consider internalnon-matching deletions or additions in sequences, i.e., gaps, in itscalculation, this can be corrected manually to avoid an overestimationof the % identity. CLUSTALW, however, does take sequence gaps intoaccount in its identity calculations. Also available to those havingskill in this art are the BLAST and BLAST 2.0 algorithms (Altschul,(1997) Nucl. Acids Res. 25:3389-3402; Altschul (1993) J. Mol. Evol.36:290-300; Altschul (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410). The BLASTNprogram for nucleic acid sequences uses as defaults a word length (W) of11, an expectation (E) of 10, M=5, N=4, and a comparison of bothstrands. The BLOSUM62 scoring matrix (Henikoff (1989) PNAS 89:10915)uses alignments (B) of 50, expectation (E) of 10, M=5, N=4, and acomparison of both strands.

In order to determine whether an nucleotide residue in a nucleic acidsequence corresponds to a certain position in the nucleotide sequence ofe.g. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19,21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43,45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67,69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 89, 90, 91,93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110, 111,113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126, 127, 129, 130,131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, 143, 145, 146, 147, 149,150, 151, 153, 154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167,169, 170, 171, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186,187, 189, 190, 191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205,206, 207, 209, 210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223,225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242,243, 245, 246, 247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261,262, 263, 265, 266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279,281, 282, 283, 285, 286, 287, 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299, 300,301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317, 319,320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336, 337,339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355, 356,357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373, 375,376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392, 393,395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411, 412,413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 431,432, and 433, respectively, the skilled person can use means and methodswell-known in the art, e.g., alignments, either manually or by usingcomputer programs such as those mentioned herein. For example, BLAST2.0, which stands for Basic Local Alignment Search Tool BLAST (Altschul(1997), loc. cit.; Altschul (1993), loc. cit.; Altschul (1990), loc.cit.), can be used to search for local sequence alignments. BLAST, asdiscussed above, produces alignments of nucleotide sequences todetermine sequence similarity. Because of the local nature of thealignments, BLAST is especially useful in determining exact matches orin identifying similar sequences. The fundamental unit of BLASTalgorithm output is the High-scoring Segment Pair (HSP). An HSP consistsof two sequence fragments of arbitrary but equal lengths whose alignmentis locally maximal and for which the alignment score meets or exceeds athreshold or cut-off score set by the user. The BLAST approach is tolook for HSPs between a query sequence and a database sequence, toevaluate the statistical significance of any matches found, and toreport only those matches which satisfy the user-selected threshold ofsignificance. The parameter E establishes the statistically significantthreshold for reporting database sequence matches. E is interpreted asthe upper bound of the expected frequency of chance occurrence of an HSP(or set of HSPs) within the context of the entire database search. Anydatabase sequence whose match satisfies E is reported in the programoutput.

Analogous computer techniques using BLAST (Altschul (1997), loc. cit.;Altschul (1993), loc. cit.; Altschul (1990), loc. cit.) are used tosearch for identical or related molecules in nucleotide databases suchas GenBank or EMBL. This analysis is much faster than multiplemembrane-based hybridizations. In addition, the sensitivity of thecomputer search can be modified to determine whether any particularmatch is categorized as exact or similar. The basis of the search is theproduct score, which is defined as:

% sequence identity x % maximum BLAST score/100

and it takes into account both the degree of similarity between twosequences and the length of the sequence match. For example, with aproduct score of 40, the match will be exact within a 1-2% error; and at70, the match will be exact. Similar molecules are usually identified byselecting those, which show product scores between 15 and 40, althoughlower scores may identify related molecules. Another example for aprogram capable of generating sequence alignments is the CLUSTALWcomputer program (Thompson (1994) Nucl. Acids Res. 2:4673-4680) orFASTDB (Brutlag (1990) Comp. App. Biosci. 6:237-245), as known in theart.

The explanations and definitions given herein above in respect of“homology/identity of nucleic acid sequences” apply, mutatis mutandis,to “amino acid sequences” of the herein provided mutant calreticulinproteins as depicted in SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36,40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104,108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, 148, 152, 156, 160,164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216,220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272,276, 280, 284, 288, 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330,334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386,390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, and 434,respectively, as explained below.

The polypeptide to be used in accordance with the present invention mayhave at least 70% identity/similarity to the proteins having the aminoacid sequence as, for example, depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, respectively.More preferably, the polypeptide has at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%,95%, 96%, 97% or 98% identity/similarity to the proteins depicted in SEQID NO: 4, respectively, wherein the higher values are preferred. Mostpreferably, the polypeptide has at least 99% homology to the protein asdepicted in 4.

The polypeptide to be used in accordance with the present invention mayhave at least 70% identity/similarity to the proteins having the aminoacid sequence as, for example, depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20,24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92,96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, 148,152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204,208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260,264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, 288, 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318,322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374,378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430,and 434, respectively. More preferably, the polypeptide has at least90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97% or 98% identity/similarity to theproteins depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108,112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164,168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220,224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276,280, 284, 288, 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334,338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390,394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, and 434, respectively,wherein the higher values are preferred. Most preferably, thepolypeptide has at least 99% homology to the protein as depicted in 4,8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76,80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136,140, 144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192,196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248,252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, 288, 294, 298, 302, 306,310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362,366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418,422, 426, 430, and 434, respectively.

Without deferring from the gist of the present invention also (a)(functional) fragment(s) or (a) (functional) derivative(s) of the hereinprovided polypeptides or proteins can be used, for example, (functional)fragment(s) or (functional) derivative(s) of the minimum C-terminus ofthe mutant calreticulin as shown in SEQ ID NO. 4. Also (a) (functional)fragment(s) or (a) (functional) derivative(s) of further herein providedmutant calreticulin polypeptides or proteins can be used, for example,(functional) fragment(s) or (functional) derivative(s) of thepolypeptide(s) as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36,40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104,108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, 148, 152, 156, 160,164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216,220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272,276, 280, 284, 288, 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330,334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386,390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, and 434,respectively.

Thus, a (functional) fragment of the above polypeptide(s)/protein(s)provided herein and to be used in accordance with the present inventioncan be any of the above specific polypeptides as shown in any one of SEQID NOs: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64,68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128,132, 136, 140, 144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184,188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240,244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, 288, 294, 298,302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354,358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410,414, 418, 422, 426, 430, and 434, respectively, wherein one or moreamino acids are deleted.

A (functional) derivative(s) of the above polypeptide(s)/protein(s)provided herein and to be used in accordance with the present inventioncan be any of the above specific polypeptides as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 4,8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76,80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136,140, 144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192,196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248,252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, 288, 294, 298, 302, 306,310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362,366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418,422, 426, 430, and 434, respectively, wherein one or more amino acidsare inserted, added or substituted.

Preferably, the deletion, insertion, addition and/or substitution of oneor more amino acids is within the C-terminus of the herein providedmutant calreticulin, i.e. within the amino acid sequence of thepolypeptide as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 4.

Preferably, the deletion, insertion, addition and/or substitution of oneor more amino acids is within the C-terminus of the herein providedmutant calreticulin, i.e. within the amino acid sequence of thepolypeptides as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36,40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104,108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, respectively.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38,39, or 40 amino acids can be deleted, inserted, added or substitutedpreferably within the C-terminus of the herein provided mutantcalreticulin, i.e. within the amino acid sequence of the polypeptides asshown in SEQ ID NOs: 4.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 5, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38,39, or 40 amino acids can be deleted preferably from the C-terminus ofthe herein provided mutant calreticulin, i.e. from the amino acidsequence of the polypeptide as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 4.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38,39, or 40 amino acids can be deleted, inserted, added and/or substitutedpreferably within the C-terminus of the herein provided mutantcalreticulin, i.e. within the amino acid sequence of the polypeptides asshown in SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52,56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116,120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, respectively.

The term “one or more amino acids deleted” relates to (functional)fragments of the specific mutant calreticulin proteins provided herein.

A preferred (functional) fragment of the above mentioned polypeptidesprovided herein and to be used in accordance with the present inventionconsists of from 15 to 25 contiguous amino acids. Accordingly, a(functional) fragment of the above mentioned polypeptides providedherein and to be used in accordance with the present inventionpreferably consists of 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25contiguous amino acids.

A (functional) fragment of the above mentioned polypeptides providedherein and to be used in accordance with the present inventionpreferably consists of from 15 to 25 contiguous amino acids of the aminoacid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 4.

A (functional) fragment of the above mentioned polypeptides providedherein and to be used in accordance with the present inventionpreferably consists of 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25contiguous amino acids of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 4.

A (functional) fragment of the above mentioned polypeptides providedherein and to be used in accordance with the present inventionpreferably consists of from 15 to 25 contiguous amino acids of thepolypeptides as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36,40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104,108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, respectively.

A (functional) fragment of the above mentioned polypeptides providedherein and to be used in accordance with the present inventionpreferably consists of 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25contiguous amino acids of the polypeptides as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8,12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80,84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140,144, respectively.

A (functional) fragment of the above mentioned polypeptides providedherein and to be used in accordance with the present invention canconsist of at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 and up to 42 contiguous amino acids of the aminoacid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 4.

A (functional) fragment of the above mentioned polypeptides providedherein and to be used in accordance with the present invention canconsist of at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 and up to 43 contiguous amino acids of theamino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 32 or 112.

A (functional) fragment of the above mentioned polypeptides providedherein and to be used in accordance with the present invention canconsist of at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 and up to 44 contiguous amino acids ofthe amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 8, 128, 132 or 144.

A (functional) fragment of the above mentioned polypeptides providedherein and to be used in accordance with the present invention canconsist of at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, and up to 45 contiguous amino acidsof the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 12, 44, 136 or 140.

A (functional) fragment of the above mentioned polypeptides providedherein and to be used in accordance with the present invention canconsist of at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 and up to 46 contiguous aminoacids of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 16 or 124.

A (functional) fragment of the above mentioned polypeptides providedherein and to be used in accordance with the present invention canconsist of at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and up to 47 contiguousamino acids of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 24, 40, 76,100, or 120.

A (functional) fragment of the above mentioned polypeptides providedherein and to be used in accordance with the present invention canconsist of at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, and up to 48 contiguousamino acids of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 28, 36, 72,84, 96 or 116.

A (functional) fragment of the above mentioned polypeptides providedherein and to be used in accordance with the present invention canconsist of at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 and up to 49contiguous amino acids of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:20, 48, 60, 64, 68, or 80.

A (functional) fragment of the above mentioned polypeptides providedherein and to be used in accordance with the present invention canconsist of at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 and up to 50contiguous amino acids of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 52or 56.

A (functional) fragment of the above mentioned polypeptides providedherein and to be used in accordance with the present invention canconsist of at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 and up to52 contiguous amino acids of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:92.

A (functional) fragment of the above mentioned polypeptides providedherein and to be used in accordance with the present invention canconsist of at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 andup to 53 contiguous amino acids of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQID NO: 88 or 104.

A (functional) fragment of the above mentioned polypeptides providedherein and to be used in accordance with the present invention canconsist of at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53and up to 54 contiguous amino acids of the amino acid sequence shown inSEQ ID NO: 108.

The fragment or derivative preferably has the same (or essentially thesame) biological activity as the full length polypeptide from which itis derived, the full length polypeptide having the amino acid sequenceas shown in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52,56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116,120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172,176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228,232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284,288, 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342,346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398,402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, and 434. In this sense, thefragment or derivative is a “functional” fragment or derivative to beused herein.

The herein provided polypeptide (as shown, for example, in SEQ ID NO: 4,8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76,80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136,140, 144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192,196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248,252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, 288, 294, 298, 302, 306,310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362,366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418,422, 426, 430, and 434, respectively) may have one or more amino acidsdeleted, inserted, added and/or substituted provided that thepolypeptide maintains essentially the biological activity which ischaracteristic of the polypeptides from which it is derived.

Preferably, any such deletions, insertions, additions and/orsubstitutions (in this context particularly substitutions) areconservative, i.e. amino acids are substituted by amino acids having thesame or similar characteristics. For example, a hydrophobic amino acidwill preferably be substituted by another hydrophobic amino acid and soon.

The “biological activity” characteristic of the herein providedpolypeptides can be considered as an activity which is causative for the(development) of a myeloid malignancy as defined herein, such as amyeloproliferative neoplasm (particularly primary myelofibrosis andessential thrombocytemia).

The present invention also provides for inhibitors of mutantcalreticulin. These inhibitors can be used as a medicament.

The term “antagonist of mutant calreticulin” or “inhibitor of mutantcalreticulin” means in context of the present invention a compoundcapable of fully or partially preventing or reducing the physiologicactivity and/or expression level of (a) mutant calreticulin. The terms“antagonist” or “inhibitor” are used interchangeably herein.

In the context of the present invention said antagonist may, therefore,prevent, reduce, inhibit or inactivate the physiological activity of amutant calreticulin upon binding of said compound/substance (i.e.antagonist/inhibitor) to said mutant calreticulin. As used herein, theterm “antagonist” also encompasses competitive antagonists, (reversible)non-competitive antagonists or irreversible antagonist, as described,inter alia, in Mutschler, “Arzneimittelwirkungen” (1986),Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Stuttgart, Germany Such aninhibition can be measured by determining substrate turnover.

An “antagonist” or “inhibitor” of a mutant calreticulin may also becapable of preventing the function of a mutant calreticulin bypreventing/reducing the expression of the nucleic acid molecule encodingfor said mutant calreticulin. Thus, an antagonist/inhibitor of a mutantcalreticulin may lead to a decreased expression level of the mutantcalreticulin (e.g. decreased level of an mutant calreticulin mRNA and/orof mutant calreticulin protein); this may be reflected in a decreasedmutant calreticulin activity. The decreased activity and/or expressionlevel can be measured/detected by known methods which are also describedherein.

An “antagonist/inhibitor of a mutant calreticulin” may, for example,interfere with transcription of (an) mutant calreticulin gene(s),processing (e.g. splicing, export from the nucleus and the like) of thegene product(s) (e.g. unspliced or partially spliced mRNA) and/ortranslation of the gene product (e.g. mature mRNA). The“antagonist/inhibitor of a mutant calreticulin” may also interfere withfurther modification (like glycosylation or phosphorylation) of thepolypeptide/protein encoded by the mutant calreticulin gene(s) and thuscompletely or partially inhibit the activity of the a mutantcalreticulin protein(s) as described herein above. Furthermore, the“antagonist/inhibitor of a mutant calreticulin” may interfere withinteractions of the mutant calreticulin protein(s) with other proteins(thus, for example, interfering with the activity of complexes involvingmutant calreticulin protein(s)) or, in general, with its synthesis, e.g.by interfering with upstream steps of mutant calreticulin expression orwith signalling pathways in which the mutant calreticulin is involved.Depending on the mode of action, such antagonists may, for example, bedenoted “sequestering antagonists” or “signalling antagonists”.

In sum, the herein described mutant calreticulin antagonist/inhibitorwill, accordingly, lead to a decrease or reduction of mutantcalreticulin expression level and/or activity, and thereby reduce itscontribution to the development or proliferation of a myeloid malignancyas defined herein.

The antagonist(s) may be shRNA (small hairpin RNA), siRNA (smallinterfering RNA), miRNA (microRNA), dsRNA (double stranded RNA), stRNA(small temporal RNA), antisense molecules, extracellularbinding-partners, small (binding) molecules, aptamers, intramers, orantibody molecules such as a full antibody (immunoglobulin), aF(ab)-fragment, a F(ab)₂-fragment, a single-chain antibody, a chimericantibody, a CDR-grafted antibody, a bivalent antibody-construct, asynthetic antibody, a bispecific single chain antibody or a cross-clonedantibody.

The present invention relates to an siRNA or shRNA specificallytargeting the nucleic acid encoding the mutant calreticulin protein(s),whereby the nucleic is especially mRNA as defined herein.

Up to 10% of the contiguous bases of the herein provided siRNAs orshRNAs can be non-complementary. The siRNA can further comprise at leastone base at the 5′ end and/or at least one base at the 3′ end.

Antagonist(s)/inhibitor(s) which are nucleic acids, such as siRNAs,shRNAs, antisense molecules and the like can readily be prepared byknown techniques using, for example, the following target sequences. Forexample, siRNAs, shRNAs and the like to be employed herein can compriseor consist of an RNA sequence corresponding to one of the targetsequences below. The term “RNA sequence corresponding to” means in thiscontext that the RNA sequence is identical to one of the targetsequences below with the exception that the tymidine (T) residues of thetarget sequence is replaced by a uracil (U) residue. The siRNA canconsist of a nucleic acid molecule comprising at least ten contiguousbases. For example, the siRNA, shRNA and the like can comprise at leastten contiguous bases of an RNA sequence corresponding to one of thetarget sequences below as defined above. The siRNA, shRNA and the likecan consist of ten contiguous bases of an RNA sequence corresponding toone of the target sequences below as defined above.

The siRNA, shRNA and the like can target one of the target sequencesbelow. These sequences relate to SEQ ID NO: 476 to SEQ ID NO: 1309.

Type of CALR shRNA sequences mutation covering the mutation site Type 1AAGGACAAACAGGACGAGGAG AGGACAAACAGGACGAGGAGC GGACAAACAGGACGAGGAGCAGACAAACAGGACGAGGAGCAG ACAAACAGGACGAGGAGCAGG CAAACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGAAACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGG AACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGA ACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGACCAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGACA AGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGACAA GGACGAGGAGCAGAGGACAAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGACAAGG ACGAGGAGCAGAGGACAAGGA CGAGGAGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGAGGAGCAGAGGACAAGGAGG AGGAGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGA GGAGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGATGAGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGATG AGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGATGA Type 2 GAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAATAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAATT GGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAATTG GAGGAGGCAGAGGACAATTGTAGGAGGCAGAGGACAATTGTC GGAGGCAGAGGACAATTGTCG GAGGCAGAGGACAATTGTCGGAGGCAGAGGACAATTGTCGGA GGCAGAGGACAATTGTCGGAG GCAGAGGACAATTGTCGGAGGCAGAGGACAATTGTCGGAGGA AGAGGACAATTGTCGGAGGAT GAGGACAATTGTCGGAGGATGAGGACAATTGTCGGAGGATGA GGACAATTGTCGGAGGATGAT GACAATTGTCGGAGGATGATGACAATTGTCGGAGGATGATGA CAATTGTCGGAGGATGATGAG AATTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGATTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGA TTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGAC TGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAA TCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAA CGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAG Type 3GACAAACAGGACGAGGAGCAG ACAAACAGGACGAGGAGCAGA CAAACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGAAACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGG AACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGC ACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCAG AGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCAGA GGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCAGAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCAGAGG ACGAGGAGCAGAGGCAGAGGA CGAGGAGCAGAGGCAGAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCAGAGGACA AGGAGCAGAGGCAGAGGACAA GGAGCAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGCAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGG AGCAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGA GCAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGCAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGG AGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGA Type 4 AGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAG GACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGG ACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAG GAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGG AGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGAG GAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGAGG AGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGAGGCGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGAGGCA CAGAGGCTTAGGAGGAGGCAG AGAGGCTTAGGAGGAGGCAGAGAGGCTTAGGAGGAGGCAGAG AGGCTTAGGAGGAGGCAGAGG GGCTTAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGAGCTTAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGAC CTTAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACA TTAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAATAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAG Type 5 GAAGGACAAACAGGACGAGGG AAGGACAAACAGGACGAGGGGAGGACAAACAGGACGAGGGGC GGACAAACAGGACGAGGGGCA GACAAACAGGACGAGGGGCAGACAAACAGGACGAGGGGCAGA CAAACAGGACGAGGGGCAGAG AAACAGGACGAGGGGCAGAGGAACAGGACGAGGGGCAGAGGA ACAGGACGAGGGGCAGAGGAC CAGGACGAGGGGCAGAGGACAAGGACGAGGGGCAGAGGACAA GGACGAGGGGCAGAGGACAAG GACGAGGGGCAGAGGACAAGGACGAGGGGCAGAGGACAAGGA CGAGGGGCAGAGGACAAGGAG GAGGGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGAGGGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGA GGGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGAT GGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGATG Type 6GGACAAACAGGACGAGGAGCG GACAAACAGGACGAGGAGCGG ACAAACAGGACGAGGAGCGGACAAACAGGACGAGGAGCGGAG AAACAGGACGAGGAGCGGAGG AACAGGACGAGGAGCGGAGGCACAGGACGAGGAGCGGAGGCA CAGGACGAGGAGCGGAGGCAG AGGACGAGGAGCGGAGGCAGAGGACGAGGAGCGGAGGCAGAG GACGAGGAGCGGAGGCAGAGG ACGAGGAGCGGAGGCAGAGGACGAGGAGCGGAGGCAGAGGAC GAGGAGCGGAGGCAGAGGACA AGGAGCGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGCGGAGGCAGAGGACAAG GAGCGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGG AGCGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGCGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAG CGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGG Type 7 AGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAG GACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGG ACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAG GAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGG AGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGAT GAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGATG AGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGATGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGATGAT CAGAGGCTTAGGAGGATGATG AGAGGCTTAGGAGGATGATGAGAGGCTTAGGAGGATGATGAG AGGCTTAGGAGGATGATGAGG GGCTTAGGAGGATGATGAGGAGCTTAGGAGGATGATGAGGAC CTTAGGAGGATGATGAGGACA TTAGGAGGATGATGAGGACAATAGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAA Type 8 GACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAG ACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAG GAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGG AGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGAG GAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGAGG AGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGAGGCGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGAGGCA CAGAGGCTTAAGAGGAGGCAG AGAGGCTTAAGAGGAGGCAGAGAGGCTTAAGAGGAGGCAGAG AGGCTTAAGAGGAGGCAGAGG GGCTTAAGAGGAGGCAGAGGAGCTTAAGAGGAGGCAGAGGAC CTTAAGAGGAGGCAGAGGACA TTAAGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAATAAGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAG AAGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGG AGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGA Type 9AAGAAACGCAAAGAGGAGGAG AGAAACGCAAAGAGGAGGAGA GAAACGCAAAGAGGAGGAGAGAAACGCAAAGAGGAGGAGAGG AACGCAAAGAGGAGGAGAGGC ACGCAAAGAGGAGGAGAGGCACGCAAAGAGGAGGAGAGGCAG GCAAAGAGGAGGAGAGGCAGA CAAAGAGGAGGAGAGGCAGAGAAAGAGGAGGAGAGGCAGAGG AAGAGGAGGAGAGGCAGAGGA AGAGGAGGAGAGGCAGAGGACGAGGAGGAGAGGCAGAGGACA AGGAGGAGAGGCAGAGGACAA GGAGGAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGG AGGAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGA GGAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGG AGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGA Type 10GGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAT GAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACATG AGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACATGTGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACATGTG GAGGAGGCAGAGGACATGTGT AGGAGGCAGAGGACATGTGTCGGAGGCAGAGGACATGTGTCG GAGGCAGAGGACATGTGTCGG AGGCAGAGGACATGTGTCGGAGGCAGAGGACATGTGTCGGAG GCAGAGGACATGTGTCGGAGG CAGAGGACATGTGTCGGAGGAAGAGGACATGTGTCGGAGGAT GAGGACATGTGTCGGAGGATG AGGACATGTGTCGGAGGATGAGGACATGTGTCGGAGGATGAT GACATGTGTCGGAGGATGATG ACATGTGTCGGAGGATGATGACATGTGTCGGAGGATGATGAG ATGTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGG TGTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGAGTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGAC TGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACA GTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAATCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAA CGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAG Type 11AAGGACAAACAGGACGAGGAC AGGACAAACAGGACGAGGACC GGACAAACAGGACGAGGACCAGACAAACAGGACGAGGACCAG ACAAACAGGACGAGGACCAGA CAAACAGGACGAGGACCAGAGAAACAGGACGAGGACCAGAGG AACAGGACGAGGACCAGAGGC ACAGGACGAGGACCAGAGGCACAGGACGAGGACCAGAGGCAG AGGACGAGGACCAGAGGCAGA GGACGAGGACCAGAGGCAGAGGACGAGGACCAGAGGCAGAGG ACGAGGACCAGAGGCAGAGGA CGAGGACCAGAGGCAGAGGACGAGGACCAGAGGCAGAGGACA AGGACCAGAGGCAGAGGACAA GGACCAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGACCAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGG ACCAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGA CCAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGCAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGG AGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGA Type 12AAACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGG AACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGA ACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGAGCAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGAGG AGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGAGGA GGACGAGGAGCAGAGGAGGAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGAGGAGG ACGAGGAGCAGAGGAGGAGGA CGAGGAGCAGAGGAGGAGGAGGAGGAGCAGAGGAGGAGGAGG AGGAGCAGAGGAGGAGGAGGA GGAGCAGAGGAGGAGGAGGAGGAGCAGAGGAGGAGGAGGAGG AGCAGAGGAGGAGGAGGAGGC GCAGAGGAGGAGGAGGAGGCACAGAGGAGGAGGAGGAGGCAG AGAGGAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGA GAGGAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGAGGAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGG GGAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGA Type 13ACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCA CAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCAG AGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCAGAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCAGAG GACGAGGAGCAGAGGCAGAGG ACGAGGAGCAGAGGCAGAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCAGAGGAG GAGGAGCAGAGGCAGAGGAGG AGGAGCAGAGGCAGAGGAGGAGGAGCAGAGGCAGAGGAGGAG GAGCAGAGGCAGAGGAGGAGG AGCAGAGGCAGAGGAGGAGGCGCAGAGGCAGAGGAGGAGGCA CAGAGGCAGAGGAGGAGGCAG AGAGGCAGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGAGGCAGAGGAGGAGGCAGAG AGGCAGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGG GGCAGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGAGCAGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGAC CAGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACA AGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAType 14 CAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTG AGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTGAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTGAG GACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTGAGG ACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTGAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTGAGGAG GAGGAGCAGAGGCTGAGGAGG AGGAGCAGAGGCTGAGGAGGAGGAGCAGAGGCTGAGGAGGAG GAGCAGAGGCTGAGGAGGAGG AGCAGAGGCTGAGGAGGAGGCGCAGAGGCTGAGGAGGAGGCA CAGAGGCTGAGGAGGAGGCAG AGAGGCTGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGAGGCTGAGGAGGAGGCAGAG AGGCTGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGG GGCTGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGAGCTGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGAC CTGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACA TGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAType 15 AGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTA GGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGG ACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGA CGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGG AGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGA GGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGAGG AGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGAGGG GCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGAGGGACAGAGGCTTAGGAGGAGGGAG AGAGGCTTAGGAGGAGGGAGA GAGGCTTAGGAGGAGGGAGAGAGGCTTAGGAGGAGGGAGAGG GGCTTAGGAGGAGGGAGAGGA GCTTAGGAGGAGGGAGAGGACCTTAGGAGGAGGGAGAGGACA TTAGGAGGAGGGAGAGGACAA TAGGAGGAGGGAGAGGACAAGAGGAGGAGGGAGAGGACAAGG GGAGGAGGGAGAGGACAAGGA GAGGAGGGAGAGGACAAGGAGAGGAGGGAGAGGACAAGGAGG GGAGGGAGAGGACAAGGAGGA GAGGGAGAGGACAAGGAGGATAGGGAGAGGACAAGGAGGATG GGGAGAGGACAAGGAGGATGA GGAGAGGACAAGGAGGATGATGAGAGGACAAGGAGGATGATG Type 16 AGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTCGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTCA GACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTCAG ACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTCAGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTCAGAG GAGGAGCAGAGGCTTCAGAGG AGGAGCAGAGGCTTCAGAGGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTCAGAGGAG GAGCAGAGGCTTCAGAGGAGG AGCAGAGGCTTCAGAGGAGGCGCAGAGGCTTCAGAGGAGGCA CAGAGGCTTCAGAGGAGGCAG AGAGGCTTCAGAGGAGGCAGAGAGGCTTCAGAGGAGGCAGAG AGGCTTCAGAGGAGGCAGAGG GGCTTCAGAGGAGGCAGAGGAGCTTCAGAGGAGGCAGAGGAC CTTCAGAGGAGGCAGAGGACA TTCAGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAATCAGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAG CAGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGG AGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAType 17 GACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAG ACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAG GAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGG AGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGAG GAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGAGG AGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGAGGCGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGAGGCA CAGAGGCTTAAGAGGAGGCAG AGAGGCTTAAGAGGAGGCAGTGAGGCTTAAGAGGAGGCAGTG AGGCTTAAGAGGAGGCAGTGG GGCTTAAGAGGAGGCAGTGGAGCTTAAGAGGAGGCAGTGGAC CTTAAGAGGAGGCAGTGGACA TTAAGAGGAGGCAGTGGACAATAAGAGGAGGCAGTGGACAAG AAGAGGAGGCAGTGGACAAGG AGAGGAGGCAGTGGACAAGGAGAGGAGGCAGTGGACAAGGAG AGGAGGCAGTGGACAAGGAGG GGAGGCAGTGGACAAGGAGGAGAGGCAGTGGACAAGGAGGAT AGGCAGTGGACAAGGAGGATG GGCAGTGGACAAGGAGGATGAGCAGTGGACAAGGAGGATGAT CAGTGGACAAGGAGGATGATG AGTGGACAAGGAGGATGATGAGTGGACAAGGAGGATGATGAG TGGACAAGGAGGATGATGAGG Type 18GACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAG ACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGA CGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGG AGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGA GGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGATGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGATG AGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGATGA GCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGATGATCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGATGATG AGAGGCTTAAGAGGATGATGA GAGGCTTAAGAGGATGATGAGAGGCTTAAGAGGATGATGAGG GGCTTAAGAGGATGATGAGGA GCTTAAGAGGATGATGAGGACCTTAAGAGGATGATGAGGACA TTAAGAGGATGATGAGGACAA TAAGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAAAGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAG AGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGA Type 19GAGCAGAGGCTTAAGGAGGAG AGCAGAGGCTTAAGGAGGAGA GCAGAGGCTTAAGGAGGAGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGGAGGAGAGG AGAGGCTTAAGGAGGAGAGGC GAGGCTTAAGGAGGAGAGGCAAGGCTTAAGGAGGAGAGGCAG GGCTTAAGGAGGAGAGGCAGA GCTTAAGGAGGAGAGGCAGAGCTTAAGGAGGAGAGGCAGAGG TTAAGGAGGAGAGGCAGAGGA TAAGGAGGAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGAGAGGCAGAGGACA AGGAGGAGAGGCAGAGGACAA GGAGGAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGG AGGAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGA GGAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGG AGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGA Type 20GCTTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGG CTTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGGG TTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGGGATAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGGGAG AAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGGGAGG AGGAGGAGGAAGAAGGGAGGAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGGGAGGAG GAGGAGGAAGAAGGGAGGAGG AGGAGGAAGAAGGGAGGAGGCGGAGGAAGAAGGGAGGAGGCA GAGGAAGAAGGGAGGAGGCAG AGGAAGAAGGGAGGAGGCAGAGGAAGAAGGGAGGAGGCAGAG GAAGAAGGGAGGAGGCAGAGG AAGAAGGGAGGAGGCAGAGGAAGAAGGGAGGAGGCAGAGGAC GAAGGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACA AAGGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAAGGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAG GGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGG Type 21GCTTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGC CTTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGCG TTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGCGTTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGCGTT AAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGCGTTT AGGAGGAGGAAGAAGCGTTTAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGCGTTTAA GAGGAGGAAGAAGCGTTTAAG AGGAGGAAGAAGCGTTTAAGAGGAGGAAGAAGCGTTTAAGAG GAGGAAGAAGCGTTTAAGAGG AGGAAGAAGCGTTTAAGAGGAGGAAGAAGCGTTTAAGAGGAC GAAGAAGCGTTTAAGAGGACA AAGAAGCGTTTAAGAGGACAAAGAAGCGTTTAAGAGGACAAG GAAGCGTTTAAGAGGACAAGG AAGCGTTTAAGAGGACAAGGAAGCGTTTAAGAGGACAAGGAG GCGTTTAAGAGGACAAGGAGG CGTTTAAGAGGACAAGGAGGAGTTTAAGAGGACAAGGAGGAT TTTAAGAGGACAAGGAGGATG TTAAGAGGACAAGGAGGATGATAAGAGGACAAGGAGGATGAT AAGAGGACAAGGAGGATGATG Type 22TTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACA TAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAA AAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAACAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAACG GGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAACGC GAGGAGGAAGAAGACAACGCAAGGAGGAAGAAGACAACGCAA GGAGGAAGAAGACAACGCAAA GAGGAAGAAGACAACGCAAAGAGGAAGAAGACAACGCAAAGA GGAAGAAGACAACGCAAAGAG GAAGAAGACAACGCAAAGAGGAAGAAGACAACGCAAAGAGGA AGAAGACAACGCAAAGAGGAG GAAGACAACGCAAAGAGGAGGAAGACAACGCAAAGAGGAGGA AGACAACGCAAAGAGGAGGAG GACAACGCAAAGAGGAGGAGGACAACGCAAAGAGGAGGAGGA CAACGCAAAGAGGAGGAGGAG Type 23TTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACT TAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACTG AAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACTGCAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACTGCG GGAGGAGGAAGAAGACTGCGT GAGGAGGAAGAAGACTGCGTGAGGAGGAAGAAGACTGCGTGA GGAGGAAGAAGACTGCGTGAG GAGGAAGAAGACTGCGTGAGGAGGAAGAAGACTGCGTGAGGA GGAAGAAGACTGCGTGAGGAG GAAGAAGACTGCGTGAGGAGGAAGAAGACTGCGTGAGGAGGA AGAAGACTGCGTGAGGAGGAG GAAGACTGCGTGAGGAGGAGGAAGACTGCGTGAGGAGGAGGA AGACTGCGTGAGGAGGAGGAG GACTGCGTGAGGAGGAGGAGGACTGCGTGAGGAGGAGGAGGC CTGCGTGAGGAGGAGGAGGCA TGCGTGAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGGCGTGAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGA CGTGAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAG GTGAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGTGAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGA Type 24 TTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACATAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAG AAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAGG AGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAGGAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAGGAG GAGGAGGAAGAAGACAGGAGG AGGAGGAAGAAGACAGGAGGCGGAGGAAGAAGACAGGAGGCA GAGGAAGAAGACAGGAGGCAG AGGAAGAAGACAGGAGGCAGAGGAAGAAGACAGGAGGCAGAG GAAGAAGACAGGAGGCAGAGG AAGAAGACAGGAGGCAGAGGAAGAAGACAGGAGGCAGAGGAC GAAGACAGGAGGCAGAGGACA AAGACAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAAGACAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAG GACAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGG ACAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGACAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAG Type 25 AAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAAAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAAAA GGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAAAAG GAGGAGGAAGAAGACAAAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAAAAGGC GGAGGAAGAAGACAAAAGGCA GAGGAAGAAGACAAAAGGCAGAGGAAGAAGACAAAAGGCAGA GGAAGAAGACAAAAGGCAGAG GAAGAAGACAAAAGGCAGAGGAAGAAGACAAAAGGCAGAGGA AGAAGACAAAAGGCAGAGGAC GAAGACAAAAGGCAGAGGACAAAGACAAAAGGCAGAGGACAA AGACAAAAGGCAGAGGACAAG GACAAAAGGCAGAGGACAAGGACAAAAGGCAGAGGACAAGGA CAAAAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAG AAAAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGAAAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGA AAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGAT Type 26AAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAAA AGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAAAA GGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAAAAAGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAAAAAC AGGAGGAAGAAGACAAAAACG GGAGGAAGAAGACAAAAACGCGAGGAAGAAGACAAAAACGCA AGGAAGAAGACAAAAACGCAA GGAAGAAGACAAAAACGCAAAGAAGAAGACAAAAACGCAAAG AAGAAGACAAAAACGCAAAGA AGAAGACAAAAACGCAAAGAGGAAGACAAAAACGCAAAGAGG AAGACAAAAACGCAAAGAGGA AGACAAAAACGCAAAGAGGAGGACAAAAACGCAAAGAGGAGG ACAAAAACGCAAAGAGGAGGA CAAAAACGCAAAGAGGAGGAGAAAAACGCAAAGAGGAGGAGG AAAACGCAAAGAGGAGGAGGA AAACGCAAAGAGGAGGAGGAGType 27 AGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAAGT GGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAAGTGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAAGTGT AGGAGGAAGAAGACAAGTGTT GGAGGAAGAAGACAAGTGTTTGAGGAAGAAGACAAGTGTTTC AGGAAGAAGACAAGTGTTTCG GGAAGAAGACAAGTGTTTCGCGAAGAAGACAAGTGTTTCGCA AAGAAGACAAGTGTTTCGCAA AGAAGACAAGTGTTTCGCAAAGAAGACAAGTGTTTCGCAAAG AAGACAAGTGTTTCGCAAAGA AGACAAGTGTTTCGCAAAGAGGACAAGTGTTTCGCAAAGAGG ACAAGTGTTTCGCAAAGAGGA CAAGTGTTTCGCAAAGAGGAGAAGTGTTTCGCAAAGAGGAGG AGTGTTTCGCAAAGAGGAGGA GTGTTTCGCAAAGAGGAGGAGTGTTTCGCAAAGAGGAGGAGG GTTTCGCAAAGAGGAGGAGGA TTTCGCAAAGAGGAGGAGGAGTTCGCAAAGAGGAGGAGGAGG TCGCAAAGAGGAGGAGGAGGC Type 28GAAGAAGACAAGAAACGCAAA AAGAAGACAAGAAACGCAAAA AGAAGACAAGAAACGCAAAAGGAAGACAAGAAACGCAAAAGG AAGACAAGAAACGCAAAAGGA AGACAAGAAACGCAAAAGGAGGACAAGAAACGCAAAAGGAGG ACAAGAAACGCAAAAGGAGGA CAAGAAACGCAAAAGGAGGATAAGAAACGCAAAAGGAGGATG AGAAACGCAAAAGGAGGATGA GAAACGCAAAAGGAGGATGATAAACGCAAAAGGAGGATGATG AACGCAAAAGGAGGATGATGA ACGCAAAAGGAGGATGATGAGCGCAAAAGGAGGATGATGAGG GCAAAAGGAGGATGATGAGGA CAAAAGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAAGGAGGATGATGAGGACA AAAGGAGGATGATGAGGACAA Type 29AAGACAAGAAACGCAAAGAGC AGACAAGAAACGCAAAGAGCC GACAAGAAACGCAAAGAGCCTACAAGAAACGCAAAGAGCCTC CAAGAAACGCAAAGAGCCTCC AAGAAACGCAAAGAGCCTCCTAGAAACGCAAAGAGCCTCCTC GAAACGCAAAGAGCCTCCTCT AAACGCAAAGAGCCTCCTCTTAACGCAAAGAGCCTCCTCTTT ACGCAAAGAGCCTCCTCTTTG CGCAAAGAGCCTCCTCTTTGTGCAAAGAGCCTCCTCTTTGTC CAAAGAGCCTCCTCTTTGTCT TTTAAAGAGCCTCCTCGTCTAAAGAGCCTCCTCTTTGTCTAA AGAGCCTCCTCTTTGTCTAAG GAGCCTCCTCTTTGTCTAAGGAGCCTCCTCTTTGTCTAAGGA GCCTCCTCTTTGTCTAAGGAG CCTCCTCTTTGTCTAAGGAGGCTCCTCTTTGTCTAAGGAGGA TCCTCTTTGTCTAAGGAGGAT CCTCTTTGTCTAAGGAGGATGCTCTTTGTCTAAGGAGGATGA TCTTTGTCTAAGGAGGATGAT CTTTGTCTAAGGAGGATGATGTTTGTCTAAGGAGGATGATGA TTGTCTAAGGAGGATGATGAG TGTCTAAGGAGGATGATGAGGGTCTAAGGAGGATGATGAGGA TCTAAGGAGGATGATGAGGAC CTAAGGAGGATGATGAGGACATAAGGAGGATGATGAGGACAA Type 30 GACAAGAAACGCAAAGAGGACACAAGAAACGCAAAGAGGACC CAAGAAACGCAAAGAGGACCA AAGAAACGCAAAGAGGACCATAGAAACGCAAAGAGGACCATC GAAACGCAAAGAGGACCATCC AAACGCAAAGAGGACCATCCTAACGCAAAGAGGACCATCCTT ACGCAAAGAGGACCATCCTTG CGCAAAGAGGACCATCCTTGTGCAAAGAGGACCATCCTTGTC CAAAGAGGACCATCCTTGTCG AAAGAGGACCATCCTTGTCGGAAGAGGACCATCCTTGTCGGA AGAGGACCATCCTTGTCGGAG GAGGACCATCCTTGTCGGAGGAGGACCATCCTTGTCGGAGGA GGACCATCCTTGTCGGAGGAT GACCATCCTTGTCGGAGGATGACCATCCTTGTCGGAGGATGA CCATCCTTGTCGGAGGATGAT CATCCTTGTCGGAGGATGATGATCCTTGTCGGAGGATGATGA TCCTTGTCGGAGGATGATGAG CCTTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGCTTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGA TTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGAC TGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAA TCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAA CGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGType 31 AGAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGG GAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGGCAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGGCA GGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGGCAA GAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGGCAATAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGGCAATT GGAGGAGGCAGAGGGCAATTG GAGGAGGCAGAGGGCAATTGTAGGAGGCAGAGGGCAATTGTC GGAGGCAGAGGGCAATTGTCG GAGGCAGAGGGCAATTGTCGGAGGCAGAGGGCAATTGTCGGA GGCAGAGGGCAATTGTCGGAG GCAGAGGGCAATTGTCGGAGGCAGAGGGCAATTGTCGGAGGA AGAGGGCAATTGTCGGAGGAT GAGGGCAATTGTCGGAGGATGAGGGCAATTGTCGGAGGATGA GGGCAATTGTCGGAGGATGAT GGCAATTGTCGGAGGATGATGGCAATTGTCGGAGGATGATGA CAATTGTCGGAGGATGATGAG AATTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGATTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGA TTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGAC TGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAA TCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAA CGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGType 32 AGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACT GGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACTGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACTGT AGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACTGTC GGAGGAGGCAGAGGACTGTCGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACTGTCGG AGGAGGCAGAGGACTGTCGGA GGAGGCAGAGGACTGTCGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACTGTCGGAGG AGGCAGAGGACTGTCGGAGGA GGCAGAGGACTGTCGGAGGATGCAGAGGACTGTCGGAGGATG CAGAGGACTGTCGGAGGATGA AGAGGACTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACTGTCGGAGGATGATG AGGACTGTCGGAGGATGATGA GGACTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGG ACTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGA CTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACA GTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAA TCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAACGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAG Type 33 GAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAAAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAAT GGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAATG GAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAATGTAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAATGTC GGAGGCAGAGGACAAATGTCG GAGGCAGAGGACAAATGTCGGAGGCAGAGGACAAATGTCGGA GGCAGAGGACAAATGTCGGAG GCAGAGGACAAATGTCGGAGGCAGAGGACAAATGTCGGAGGA AGAGGACAAATGTCGGAGGAT GAGGACAAATGTCGGAGGATGAGGACAAATGTCGGAGGATGA GGACAAATGTCGGAGGATGAT GACAAATGTCGGAGGATGATGACAAATGTCGGAGGATGATGA CAAATGTCGGAGGATGATGAG AAATGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGAATGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGA ATGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGAC TGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAA TCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAA CGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGType 34 GGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAC GAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACACTAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACACTT GGAGGAGGCAGAGGACACTTG GAGGAGGCAGAGGACACTTGTAGGAGGCAGAGGACACTTGTC GGAGGCAGAGGACACTTGTCG GAGGCAGAGGACACTTGTCGGAGGCAGAGGACACTTGTCGGA GGCAGAGGACACTTGTCGGAG GCAGAGGACACTTGTCGGAGGCAGAGGACACTTGTCGGAGGA AGAGGACACTTGTCGGAGGAT GAGGACACTTGTCGGAGGATGAGGACACTTGTCGGAGGATGA GGACACTTGTCGGAGGATGAT GACACTTGTCGGAGGATGATGACACTTGTCGGAGGATGATGA CACTTGTCGGAGGATGATGAG ACTTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGCTTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGA TTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGAC TGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAA TCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAA CGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGType 35 GGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAT GAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACATTAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACATTT GGAGGAGGCAGAGGACATTTG GAGGAGGCAGAGGACATTTGTAGGAGGCAGAGGACATTTGTC GGAGGCAGAGGACATTTGTCG GAGGCAGAGGACATTTGTCGGAGGCAGAGGACATTTGTCGGA GGCAGAGGACATTTGTCGGAG GCAGAGGACATTTGTCGGAGGCAGAGGACATTTGTCGGAGGA AGAGGACATTTGTCGGAGGAT GAGGACATTTGTCGGAGGATGAGGACATTTGTCGGAGGATGA GGACATTTGTCGGAGGATGAT GACATTTGTCGGAGGATGATGACATTTGTCGGAGGATGATGA CATTTGTCGGAGGATGATGAG ATTTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGTTTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGA TTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGAC TGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAA TCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAA CGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGType 36 GGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGTG GAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGTGTAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGTGTC GGAGGCAGAGGACAAGTGTCG GAGGCAGAGGACAAGTGTCGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGTGTCGGA GGCAGAGGACAAGTGTCGGAG GCAGAGGACAAGTGTCGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGTGTCGGAGGA AGAGGACAAGTGTCGGAGGAT GAGGACAAGTGTCGGAGGATGAGGACAAGTGTCGGAGGATGA GGACAAGTGTCGGAGGATGAT GACAAGTGTCGGAGGATGATGACAAGTGTCGGAGGATGATGA CAAGTGTCGGAGGATGATGAG AAGTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGAGTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGA GTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGAC TGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAA TCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAA CGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAG

Herein contemplated are antibodies that specifically bind to the aboveprovided mutant calreticulin protein(s). Such antibodies can be used fordiagnostic and therapeutic purposes in accordance with the presentinvention. For example, antibodies raised against the C-terminal uniquepolypeptide of mutated calreticulin offers a diagnostic test for myeloidmalignancy. Also detection of peptides derived from this uniqueC-terminus by mass spectrometry offers a diagnostic test for myeloidmalignancy. Preferably, such antibodies are inhibitors of mutantcalreticulin.

For example, antibodies to be used herein can specifically bind to thefollowing mutant calreticulin protein(s) shown in SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8, 12,16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84,88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144,148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200,204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256,260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, 288, 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314,318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370,374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426,430, and 434, respectively. Particularly, such antibodies canspecifically bind to the C-terminus of the mutant calreticulinprotein(s), for example, to proteins as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8, 12,16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84,88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144,respectively.

It is invisaged herein that the antibodies can specifically bind to(functional) fragments or (functional) derivaties of the mutantcalreticulin proteins as defined herein, for example also topolypeptides having at least 70% or more identity to herein providedmutant calreticulin protein(s).

Accordingly, the present invention relates to the use of theseantibodies in the methods of the present invention. Therefore, thepresent invention relates to the use of the herein above describedantibody/antibodies specifically binding to or specifically recognizingone or more of the herein described and provided mutant calreticulinproteins polypeptides for assessing whether a patient suffers from amyeloid malignancy or is prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy.

The present invention also relates to an antibody/antibodies as definedabove or the above composition comprising said antibody/antibodies forthe preparation of a diagnostic kit for use in the methods of thepresent invention.

The antibody may be a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a fullantibody (immunoglobulin), a F(ab)-fragment, a F(ab)₂-fragment, asingle-chain antibody, a chimeric antibody, a CDR-grafted antibody, abivalent antibody-construct, a bispecific single chain antibody, asynthetic antibody or a cross-cloned antibody and the like.

Polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies or other antibodies (derivedtherefrom) can be routinely prepared using, inter alia, standardimmunization protocols; see Ed Harlow, David Lane, (December 1988),Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory; or EdHarlow, David Lane, (December 1998), Portable Protocols (UsingAntibodies): A Laboratory Manual 2^(nd) edition, Cold Spring HarborLaboratory.

For example, immunization may involve the intraperitoneal orsubcutaneous administration of the mutant calreticulinprotein/polypeptide (and/or fragments, isoforms, homologues and so on)as defined herein to a mammal (e.g. rodents such as mice, rats, hamstersand the like). Preferably, fragments of the mutant protein/polypeptideare used, wherein the fragment preferably bears the C-terminus (or afragment thereof) as defined herein.

A preferred fragment of the above mentioned polypeptides (i.e. themutant calreticulin protein/polypeptide(s)) provided herein and to beused in accordance with the present invention consists of from 15 to 25contiguous amino acids. Accordingly, a fragment of the above mentionedpolypeptides provided herein and to be used in accordance with thepresent invention preferably consists of 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, or 25 contiguous amino acids. A fragment of the above mentionedpolypeptides provided herein and to be used in accordance with thepresent invention preferably consists of from 15 to 25 contiguous aminoacids of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 4. A fragment ofthe above mentioned polypeptides provided herein and to be used inaccordance with the present invention preferably consists of 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25 contiguous amino acids of the aminoacid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 4.

As proof of principle, a fragment (RRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA) was used togenerate polyclonal antibodies that bind specifically to mutantcalreticulin antibody; see Example 2. This fragment consists of 24contiguous amino acids of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 4.These polyclonal antibodies can be used as a research tool and/or in thediagnostic methods provided herein. This fragment of the mutantcalreticulin protein (or other fragments provided and defined herein)can also be used as a vaccine, as it is described herein further below.

Methods for the preparation and screening of antibodies thatspecifically bind to or specifically recognize the mutant polypeptidesare known in the art. For example, antibodies recognizing the mutantprotein may be affinity purified. ELISA is commonly used for screeningsera and/or assaying affinity column fractions. Western Blots can beused to demonstrate that the antibody can detect the actual protein ofinterest and to evaluate whether the antibody only recognizes theprotein of interest, or if it cross-reacts with other proteins.

A person skilled in the art is in the position to apply and to adapt theteaching of these documents for the generation and validation ofantibodies specifically binding to or specifically recognizing thepolypeptides as defined herein in context of the present invention.

The following relates to the use of the herein provided mutantcalreticulin proteins as a vaccine. Thus, the mutant calreticulinproteins act as antigens. Therefore, the terms “mutant calreticulinprotein” and “mutant calreticulin protein antigens” and the like can beused interchangeably herein in the following.

In accordance with the above, the herein provided mutant calreticulinproteins can be used as a vaccine. In other words, herein providedmutant calreticulin proteins can be used in active immunization. Thus,the present invention relates to mutant calreticulin proteins as definedand provided herein (or nucleic acids (or vectors comprising same))encoding mutant calreticulin proteins as defined and provided herein foruse as vaccine. Mutant calreticulin proteins, fragments and derivativesthereof have been described herein above in great detail. Theseexplanations and definitions apply, mutatis mutandis, in this context.Useful as vaccine are, in particular, proteins comprising or consistingof the C-terminus of the herein provided mutant calreticulin proteins asshown in SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52,56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116,120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, respectively, as well as of fragmentsthereof. Particularly useful in this context are mutant calreticulinproteins that comprise or consist of the minimum C-terminus as shown inSEQ ID NO: 4 or a fragment thereof.

The present invention relates to a protein for use as vaccine, whereinthe protein is selected from the group consisting of

-   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic    acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;-   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID    NO: 4;-   (c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino    acids are deleted, inserted, added or substituted;-   (d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein    comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4;-   (e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic    acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary    strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c);-   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one    of (a) to (e); and-   (g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic    acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the    nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d) or (e).

The present invention relates to a protein for use as vaccine, whereinthe protein is selected from the group consisting of

-   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic    acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11,    13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34,    35, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57,    58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79,    81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101,    102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118,    119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126, 127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135,    137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143;-   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID    NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64,    68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124,    128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;-   (c) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein    comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12,    16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80,    84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136,    140, or 144;-   (d) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic    acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the complementary    strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a);-   (e) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any one    of (a) to (d); and-   (f) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic    acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the    nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (c) or (d).

The present invention relates to a protein for use as vaccine as definedherein above, wherein the protein consists of 15 to 25 contiguous aminoacids of the protein as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4.

Preferably, a fragment of the protein shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 comprisingor consisting of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39, or 40 amino acids of the protein as shown in SEQ ID NO:4 is used as vaccine. Particularly preferred are fragments of theprotein shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 comprising or consisting of 15 to 25contiguous amino acids of the protein as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 for useas vaccine. Accordingly, a fragment of the protein shown in SEQ ID NO: 4comprising or consisting of 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or25 contiguous amino acids of the protein as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 isused as vaccine.

Such fragments or derivatives of the protein shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 canbe coupled to proteins such as keyholde lymphocyte hemocyanin (KLH),bovine serum albumin (BSA), or bacterial toxoids (e.g. tetanus toxoid,diphtheria toxoid) and used for immunization.

The vaccine can be used in the treatment of myeloid malignancies asdefined herein.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method for prophylacticor therapeutic treatment of a myeloid malignancy as defined herein,comprising administering an effective amount of the vaccine as definedherein above to a patient. In other words, the present invention relatesto a method for prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of a myeloidmalignancy as defined herein, comprising administering an effectiveamount of the mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above to apatient.

For example, while a patient would not normally react to CALR, becauseof self-tolerance, many of the exon 9 mutations of CALR causeframeshifts such that the C-terminal portion of mutant CALR differs fromthe wild type and is therefore not subject to self-tolerance.Immunization with the mutant polypeptide would generate an immuneresponse against mutant CALR. Accordingly, a vaccine can be usedtherapeutically to target the existing cancer.

A vaccine could also be used prophylactically. For example, it is knownthat cancers can mutate and evolve to evade the host immune response andanticancer treatment. Thus, a patient with a myeloid malignancy that hasno CALR mutation, or a single CALR mutation, may later developadditional CALR mutations Immunization against other CALR mutant formscan, therefore, select against such CALR mutants.

CALR mutants can also be used to generate antibodies in vitro or inanother animal for use in therapy in the patient. Such an approach isparticularly useful because the antibodies can be produced againstepitopes tolerated in the patient. Such antibodies are also useful fortherapy because the titre can be precisely controlled, and the antibodymay also be conjugated to toxins or radionucleides for targeted therapy.

An exemplary protocol for performing active immunization (or the use ofthe vaccines provided herein above) is described in the following:

For example, mice can be immunized with a vaccine (for example a peptidederived from the protein shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 or a peptide which is afragment of the protein shown in SEQ ID NO: 4, wherein the peptide iscoupled with KLH or BSA) before transplantation of bone marrow cellsexpressing mutant or wild type calreticulin. The immunized recipientmice can be sublethaly or lethaly irradiated to promote engraftment ornot irradiated at all. The transplanted cells can be a mixture of cellsexpressing either mutated calreticulin or wild type calreticulin. Theimmunized mice will be followed after transplantation. If an immuneresponse is elicited against mutant calreticulin expressing cells, theengraftment will be preferably occur with wild type calreticulinexpressing cells. Control mice without immunisation will be used.Alternatively, immunization can be performed after engraftment of micewith a 50:50 (or other ratio) mixture of wild type/mutated calreticulinexpressiong cells. If an immune response is elicited against mutantcalreticulin expressing cells, the 50:50 (or other) ratio will change infavour of the wild type calreticulin expressing cells. Control micewithout immunization will be used for comparison.

The present invention relates to the use of a mutant calreticulinprotein as antigen as provided herein and defined herein above and,optionally, an adjuvant, for the manufacture of a vaccine compositionfor the treatment or prevention of myeloid malignancy as defined herein.

The mutant calreticulin protein can be produced recombinantly (i.e.produced in in appropriate host cells) or synthetic (i.e. chemicallysynthesized). Recombinant production of mutant calreticulin protein isdescribed herein. For example, recombinant production can be achievedusing any one of the molecular cloning and recombinant expressiontechniques known in the art. For example, a nucleic acid moleculeencoding mutant calreticulin protein can be introduced into anappropriate host cell, such as a bacterium, a yeast cell (e.g., a Pichiacell), an insect cell or a mammalian cell (e.g., CHO cell). The encodingnucleic acid molecule can be placed in an operable linkage to a promotercapable of effecting the expression of the mutant calreticulin proteinantigen in the host cell. mutant calreticulin protein, which isexpressed by the host cell, can be readily purified using routineprotein purification techniques.

For example, the nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or3 or a nucleic acid sequence encoding the mutant calreticulin proteinantigen shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 or encoding fragement thereof, such as aprotein consisting of 15 to 25 contiguous amino acids of the proteinshown in SEQ ID NO: 4, can be cloned in an expression vector and placedin an operable linkage to a temperature sensitive promoter. Theexpression vector can be introduced into Escherichia coli and theantigen can be expressed upon heat induction. The cells can be lysed andthe inclusion bodies where the antigen accumulates are separated bycentrifugation. The recombinant protein in the inclusion bodies issolubilized using SDS or other solubilization agents known in the artsuch as urea, guanidine hydrochloride, sodium cholate, taurocholate, andsodium deoxycholate. In accordance with the present invention, apurified r recombinant mutant calreticulin protein is combined with apharmaceutically acceptable carrier to form a vaccine composition.

The present invention provides an immunogenic composition for conferringprotection in a patient against myeloid malignancy, the compositioncomprising a mutant calreticulin protein. The composition can beformulated as a vaccine for in vivo administration to a patient. Thecomposition can comprise an adjuvant, such as aluminum hydroxide oraluminum phosphate.

Further, the present invention provides an immunogenic compositioncomprising a mutant calreticulin protein as defined herein above for useas a medicament. A composition comprising a mutant calreticulin proteinas defined herein above can be used for the manufacture of a medicamentfor immunizing a host or patient against disease a myeloid malignancy.

The present invention is directed to a vaccine composition containing amutant calreticulin protein antigen as defined herein (or “a mutantcalreticulin protein vaccine”), that is suitable for administration topatients and is capable of protecting patients against a myeloidmalignancy.

The term “a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” includes any and allsolvents, dispersion media, coatings, adjuvants, stabilizing agents,diluents, preservatives, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonicagents, adsorption delaying agents, and the like. Diluents can includewater, saline, dextrose, ethanol, glycerol, and the like. Isotonicagents can include sodium chloride, dextrose, mannitol, sorbitol, andlactose, among others. Stabilizers include albumin, among others.

Adjuvants suitable for use in a vaccine composition in accordance withthe present invention include, but are not limited to several adjuvantclasses such as; mineral salts, e.g., Alum, aluminum hydroxide, aluminumphosphate and calcium phosphate; surface-_active agents andmicroparticles, e.g., nonionic block polymer surfactants (e.g.,cholesterol), virosomes, saponins (e.g., Quil A, QS-_21 and GPI-_0100),proteosomes, immune stimulating complexes, cochleates, quarterinaryamines (dimethyl diocatadecyl ammonium bromide (DDA)), avridine, vitaminA, vitamin E; bacterial products such as the RIBI adjuvant system (RibiInc.), cell wall skeleton of Mycobacterum phlei (Detox®), muramyldipeptides (MDP) and tripeptides (MTP), monophosphoryl lipid A, BacillusCalmete-_Guerin, heat labile E. coli enterotoxins, cholera toxin,trehalose dimycolate, CpG oligodeoxnucleotides; cytokines and hormones,e.g., interleukins (IL-_1, IL-_2, IL-_6, IL-_12, IL-15, IL-_18),granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor,dehydroepiandrosterone, 1,25-_dihydroxy vitamin D3; polyanions, e.g.,dextran; polyacrylics (e.g., polymethylmethacrylate, Carbopol 934P);carriers e.g., tetanus toxid, diphtheria toxoid, cholera toxin Bsubnuit, mutant heat labile enterotoxin of enterotoxigenic E. coli(rmLT), heat shock proteins; oilin-_water emulsions e.g.,_AMPHIGEN®(Hydronics, USA); and water-_in-_oil emulsions such as, e.g., Freund'scomplete and incomplete adjuvants.

The herein provided mutant calreticulin protein antigen and thepharmaceutically acceptable carrier can be combined in any convenientand practical manner to form a vaccine composition, e.g., by admixture,solution, suspension, emulsification, encapsulation, absorption and thelike, and can be made in formulations such as tablets, capsules, powder,syrup, suspensions that are suitable for injections, implantations,inhalations, ingestions or the like. Preferably, the vaccine isformulated such that it can be administered to patients by injection ina dose of about 0.1 to 5 ml, or preferably about 0.5 to 2.5 ml, or evenmore preferably, in a dose of about 1 ml. When appropriate, thepharmaceutical compositions of the present invention should be madesterile by well-known procedures.

The amount of herein provided mutant calreticulin protein antigen in thevaccines should be immunizing-effective and is generally in the range of0.5-1000 pg per dose.

The amount of adjuvants suitable for use in the vaccines depends uponthe nature of the adjuvant used. For example, when Quil A andcholesterol are used as adjuvant, Quil A is generally in an amount ofabout 1-1000 Pg per dose; and cholesterol is generally in an amount ofabout 1-1000 Pg per dose.

In accordance with the present disclosure, a vaccine can be administeredby any known routes, including the oral, intranasal, mucosal, topical,transdermal, and parenteral (e.g., intravenous, intraperitoneal,intradermal, subcutaneous or intramuscular). Administration can also beachieved using needle-free delivery devices. Administration can beachieved using a combination of routes, e.g., first administration usinga parental route and subsequent administration using a mucosal route.Preferred routes of administration include subcutaneous andintramuscular administrations.

The present invention provides combination vaccines and methods forprotecting patients by administering such combination vaccines.

The present invention provides an immunogenic agent, wherein theimmunogenic agent is mutant calreticulin protein as defined and providedherein above. Said agent is effective to induce an immunogenic responseagainst mutant calreticulin proteins in a patient. Therefore, theimmunogenic agent can be used in the treatment or prevention of amyeloid malignancy as defined herein.

Further, the present invention provides a conjugate comprising animmunogenic agent linked to a carrier protein. The immunogenic agent ismutant calreticulin protein as defined and provided herein above. Thecarrier protein (such as serum albumin among others) can enhance theimmune response. The conjugate can be a fusion protein comprising animmunogenic agent (i.e. the mutant calreticulin protein as defined andprovided herein above) fused to a carrier protein. The agent can also belinked to the carrier protein by chemical cross-linking. The agent canbe linked or fused to the amino terminus of the carrier protein. Theagent can be linked or fused to the carboxyl of the carrier protein. Theagent can be linked or fused internally to the carrier protein. Multiplerepeats or multimers of the agent can be present in a conjugate, such asa fusion protein. The agent can be part of a longer polypeptide thatincludes the agent with other amino acids. The agent can be a componentof a particle. The particle can be a liposome or a microparticle. Theagent can be emulsified or encapsulated in the particle, such as aliposome or a microparticle.

The presence of a unique C-terminal polypeptide in mutated calreticulinproteins as provided herein offers the opportunity to target the mutantprotein leaving the wild type protein intact. As the amino acid sequencederived from the −1 reading frame of calreticulin exon 9 encodes apeptide not showing homology to any other vertebrate protein, inhibitorsas defined above (like antibodies (preferably inhibitory antibodies),siRNA, shRNAs or small molecule drugs) can be generated against it witha therapeutic effect. For example, the mutant calreticulin proteinC-terminal amino acid sequence (such as the mutant protein derived fromthe alternative reading frame of exon 9) can be used for generation ofpolyclonal and monoclonal antibodies (preferably inhibitory antibodies).The mutant calreticulin as provided herein is therefore a valuabletarget for immunotherapy in myeloid malignancies. Alternatively,immunization of patients with the mutant peptide or recombinant mutantproteins can be used in therapeutic intervention of myeloid malignancy.

It has been shown that calreticulin is secreted from the cells and canbe detected in serum. Calreticulin is also trafficked to the cellularsurface where it provides an “eat me signal” for phagocytosis ofapoptotic cells.

Accordingly, the present invention provides for an inhibitor of a mutantcalreticulin for use as a medicament. Further, the present inventionrelates to the mutant calreticulin protein as provided herein,antibodies specifically binding thereto (preferably inhibitoryantibodies), nucleic acids as provided herein (particularly nucleicsacids encoding mutant calreticulin protein), the siRNA as providedherein for use as a medicament. The terms “medicament” and“pharmaceutical composition” are used interchangeably herein.Accordingly, definitions and explanations provided herein in relation to“pharmaceutical compositions”, apply, mutatis mutandis, to the term“medicament”.

The present invention relates to an inhibitor of a mutant calreticulinfor use in the treatment of a myeloid malignancy.

The present invention provides a method for treating a myeloidmalignancy patient comprising administering an effective amount of aninhibitor of a mutant calreticulin to the patient.

The patient to be treated can be a patient assessed “positive” inaccordance with the present invention, i.e. a patient a sample of whomhas been determined to have one or more mutant alleles of thecalreticulin gene present.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to an inhibitor of a mutantcalreticulin for use in the treatment of a myeloid malignancy, whereby apatient is to be treated, who suffers from a myeloid malignancy or isprone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy, whereby one or more mutantalleles of the calreticulin gene (or of a gene product thereof) in asample from said patient is determined to be present.

All definitions and explanations given herein above in relation to thedetermination of the presence of one or more mutant alleles of thecalreticulin gene (or of a gene product thereof) in a sample from saidpatient apply, mutatis mutandis, in this context.

The present invention provides a method for treating a myeloidmalignancy patient comprising administering an effective amount of aninhibitor of a mutant calreticulin to the patient, the method furthercomprising assessing that the patient suffers from a myeloid malignancyor is prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy, comprising

-   -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene (or of a gene product thereof) in a sample        from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from a myeloid malignancy or        is prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy when said one or        more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene (or a gene product        thereof) is present.

All definitions and explanations given herein above in relation to thedetermination of the presence of one or more mutant alleles of thecalreticulin gene (or of a gene product thereof) in a sample from saidpatient apply, mutatis mutandis, in this context.

The mutant calreticulin can be a mutant calreticulin protein as definedherein above. If the mutant calreticulin is a mutant calreticulinprotein, the inhibitor can be an antibody (preferably an inhibitoryantibody), extracellular binding partners, small binding molecules,aptamers, or intramers.

The mutant calreticulin can be a nucleic acid encoding a mutantcalreticulin protein as defined herein above. If the mutant calreticulinis such a nucleic acid (preferably mRNA as provided and defined above),the inhibitor can be siRNA, miRNA, dsRNA, shRNA, stRNA, and antisensemolecules.

As mentioned above, myeloid malignancy includes a myeloproliferativeneoplasm or a myelodysplastic syndrome. An exemplary myeloproliferativeneoplasm is primary myelofibrosis (PMF). Preferred herein is the therapyof a myeloproliferative neoplasm, particularly that of primarymyelofibrosis (PMF) or of essential thrombocythemia (ET). An exemplarymyelodysplastic syndrome subject to therapeutic intervention inaccordance with the present invention is refractory anemia with ringedsideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T).

The terms “treatment”, “treating” and the like are used herein togenerally mean obtaining a desired pharmacological and/or physiologicaleffect. The effect may be prophylactic in terms of completely orpartially preventing a disease or symptom thereof and/or may betherapeutic in terms of partially or completely curing a disease and/oradverse effect attributed to the disease. The term “treatment” as usedherein covers any treatment of a disease in a subject and includes: (a)preventing a disease related in a subject which may be predisposed tothe disease; (b) inhibiting the disease, i.e. arresting its development;or (c) relieving the disease, i.e. causing regression of the disease.

An “individual”, “patient” or “subject” for the purposes of the presentinvention includes both humans and other animals, particularly mammals,and other organisms. Thus, the methods are applicable to both humantherapy and veterinary applications. Preferably, the “individual”,“patient” or “subject” is a mammal, and most preferably the“individual”, “patient” or “subject” is human.

The inhibitor of a mutant calreticulin may be administered as a singleagent (i.e. in form of a monotherapy) or in form of a combinationtherapy, for example, conventional therapies like hydroxyurea orinterferon alpha therapy.

The pharmaceutical composition will be formulated and dosed in a fashionconsistent with good medical practice, taking into account the clinicalcondition of the individual patient, the site of delivery of thepharmaceutical composition, the method of administration, the schedulingof administration, and other factors known to practitioners. The“effective amount” of the pharmaceutical composition for purposes hereinis thus determined by such considerations.

The skilled person knows that the effective amount of pharmaceuticalcomposition administered to an individual will, inter alia, depend onthe nature of the compound.

For example, if said inhibitor is a small molecule, the total(pharmaceutically) effective amount of the inhibitor in thepharmaceutical composition administered orally per dose will be in therange of about 50 mg inhibitor per day to 1000 mg inhibitor per day ofpatient, although, as noted above, this will be subject to therapeuticdiscretion. More preferably, this dose is at least 50 mg inhibitor perday, and most preferably for humans between about 50 mg and 600 mginhibitor per day. For example, an inhibitor may be administered at adose of 15 mg/kg body weigth per day. If given continuously, theinhibitor is typically administered at a dose rate of about 50 mg perday to about 600 mg per day. An intravenous bag solution may also beemployed. The length of treatment needed to observe changes and theinterval following treatment for responses to occur appears to varydepending on the desired effect. The particular amounts may bedetermined by conventional tests which are well known to the personskilled in the art. The length of treatment needed to observe changesand the interval following treatment for responses to occur appears tovary depending on the desired effect. The particular amounts may bedetermined by conventional tests which are well known to the personskilled in the art.

The administration of the herein provided compositions may, inter alia,comprise an administration twice daily, every day, every other day,every third day, every forth day, every fifth day, once a week, onceevery second week, once every third week, once every month, etc.

For example, if said compound is a (poly)peptide or protein the totalpharmaceutically effective amount of pharmaceutical compositionadministered parenterally per dose will be in the range of about 1 μgprotein/kg/day to 15 mg protein/kg/day of patient body weight, although,as noted above, this will be subject to therapeutic discretion. Morepreferably, this dose is at least 0.01 mg protein/kg/day, and mostpreferably for humans between about 0.01 and 1 mg protein/kg/day. Ifgiven continuously, the pharmaceutical composition is typicallyadministered at a dose rate of about 1 μg/kg/hour to about 50μg/kg/hour, either by 1-4 injections per day or by continuoussubcutaneous infusions, for example, using a mini-pump. An intravenousbag solution may also be employed. The length of treatment needed toobserve changes and the interval following treatment for responses tooccur appears to vary depending on the desired effect. The particularamounts may be determined by conventional tests which are well known tothe person skilled in the art.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may be administered orally,rectally, parenterally, intracisternally, intravaginally,intraperitoneally, topically (as by powders, ointments, drops ortransdermal patch), bucally, or as an oral or nasal spray.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention preferably comprise apharmaceutically acceptable carrier. By “pharmaceutically acceptablecarrier” is meant a non-toxic solid, semisolid or liquid filler,diluent, encapsulating material or formulation auxiliary of any type.The term “parenteral” as used herein refers to modes of administrationwhich include intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intrasternal,subcutaneous and intraarticular injection and infusion.

The pharmaceutical composition is also suitably administered bysustained release systems. Suitable examples of sustained-releasecompositions include semi-permeable polymer matrices in the form ofshaped articles, e.g., films, or mirocapsules. Sustained-releasematrices include polylactides (U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,919, EP 58,481),copolymers of L-glutamic acid and gamma-ethyl-L-glutamate (Sidman, U. etal., Biopolymers 22:547-556 (1983)), poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)(R. Langer et al., J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 15:167-277 (1981), and R.Langer, Chem. Tech. 12:98-105 (1982)), ethylene vinyl acetate (R. Langeret al., Id.) or poly-D-(−)-3-hydroxybutyric acid (EP 133,988). Sustainedrelease pharmaceutical composition also include liposomally entrappedcompound. Liposomes containing the pharmaceutical composition areprepared by methods known per se: DE 3,218,121; Epstein et al., Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 82:3688-3692 (1985); Hwang et al., Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. (USA) 77:4030-4034 (1980); EP 52,322; EP 36,676; EP 88,046;EP 143,949; EP 142,641; Japanese Pat. Appl. 83-118008; U.S. Pat. Nos.4,485,045 and 4,544,545; and EP 102,324. Ordinarily, the liposomes areof the small (about 200-800 Angstroms) unilamellar type in which thelipid content is greater than about 30 mol. percent cholesterol, theselected proportion being adjusted for the optimal therapy.

For parenteral administration, the pharmaceutical composition isformulated generally by mixing it at the desired degree of purity, in aunit dosage injectable form (solution, suspension, or emulsion), with apharmaceutically acceptable carrier, i.e., one that is non-toxic torecipients at the dosages and concentrations employed and is compatiblewith other ingredients of the formulation.

Generally, the formulations are prepared by contacting the components ofthe pharmaceutical composition uniformly and intimately with liquidcarriers or finely divided solid carriers or both. Then, if necessary,the product is shaped into the desired formulation. Preferably thecarrier is a parenteral carrier, more preferably a solution that isisotonic with the blood of the recipient. Examples of such carriervehicles include water, saline, Ringer's solution, and dextrosesolution. Non aqueous vehicles such as fixed oils and ethyl oleate arealso useful herein, as well as liposomes. The carrier suitably containsminor amounts of additives such as substances that enhance isotonicityand chemical stability. Such materials are non-toxic to recipients atthe dosages and concentrations employed, and include buffers such asphosphate, citrate, succinate, acetic acid, and other organic acids ortheir salts; antioxidants such as ascorbic acid; low molecular weight(less than about ten residues) (poly)peptides, e.g., polyarginine ortripeptides; proteins, such as serum albumin, gelatin, orimmunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone;amino acids, such as glycine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, or arginine;monosaccharides, disaccharides, and other carbohydrates includingcellulose or its derivatives, glucose, manose, or dextrins; chelatingagents such as EDTA; sugar alcohols such as mannitol or sorbitol;counterions such as sodium; and/or nonionic surfactants such aspolysorbates, poloxamers, or PEG.

The components of the pharmaceutical composition to be used fortherapeutic administration must be sterile. Sterility is readilyaccomplished by filtration through sterile filtration membranes (e.g.,0.2 micron membranes). Therapeutic components of the pharmaceuticalcomposition generally are placed into a container having a sterileaccess port, for example, an intravenous solution bag or vial having astopper pierceable by a hypodermic injection needle.

The components of the pharmaceutical composition ordinarily will bestored in unit or multi-dose containers, for example, sealed ampoules orvials, as an aqueous solution or as a lyophilized formulation forreconstitution. As an example of a lyophilized formulation, 10-ml vialsare filled with 5 ml of sterile-filtered 1% (w/v) aqueous solution, andthe resulting mixture is lyophilized. The infusion solution is preparedby reconstituting the lyophilized compound(s) using bacteriostaticWater-for-Injection.

The purpose of treatment for polycythemia vera is to reduce the numberof extra blood cells. Treatment of polycythemia vera may include,phlebotomy, chemotherapy with or without phlebotomy, biologic therapyusing interferon alfa or pegylated interferon alpha and low-doseaspirin.

The treatment of primary myelofibrosis in patients without signs orsymptoms is usually watchful waiting. Patients with primarymyelofibrosis may have signs or symptoms of anemia. Anemia is usuallytreated with transfusion of red blood cells to relieve symptoms andimprove quality of life. In addition, anemia may be treated witherythropoietic growth factors, prednisone, danazol, thalidomide,lenalidomide, or pomalidomide. Treatment of primary myelofibrosis inpatients with other signs or symptoms may include targeted therapy withruxolitinib (a JAK1 and JAK2 inhibitor), chemotherapy, donor stem celltransplant, thalidomide, lenalidomide, or pomalidomide, splenectomy,radiation therapy to the spleen, lymph nodes, or other areas outside thebone marrow where blood cells are forming, biologic therapy usinginterferon alfa or erythropoietic growth factors, or the inclusion in aclinical trial of other targeted therapy drugs.

Treatment of essential thrombocythemia in patients younger than 60 yearswho have no signs or symptoms and an acceptable platelet count isusually watchful waiting. In some cases, the patient can take aspirin tohelp prevent blood clots. Treatment of other patients may includeChemotherapy, hydroxyurea, Anagrelide therapy, biologic therapy usinginterferon alfa or pegylated interferon alpha, platelet apheresis.

The JAK-binding inhibitor ruxolitinib shows promise for curative andsupportive treatment. Ruxolitinib has been approved by the Food and DrugAdministration) for use in the treatment of high and intermediate riskmyelofibrosis in 2011; see Tefferi Mar. 22, 2012; Blood: 119 (12) AlsoOstojic reports that ruxolitinib is used in the therapy ofmyelofibrosis; see Ostojic Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management2012:8 95-103.

JAK inhibitors that are currently used in clinical trials formyeloproliferative neoplasms include, besides ruxolitinib, SAR302503,CYT387, lestaurtinib, SB1518, AZD1480, BMS911543, LY2784544, NS-018, andXL019; see Tefferi Mar. 22, 2012; Blood: 119 (12).

An exemplary formula of ruxolitinib((3R)-3-cyclopentyl-3-[4-(7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)pyrazol-1-yl]propanenitrile;trade name Jakafi, Jakavi) is shown below:

Refractory anemia with ringed sideroblast and thrombocytosis may requireblood transfusions and other supportive therapy to remedy anemia,including high doses of pyrodoxine (Vitamin B6). Bone marrow transplantis also an option. RARS-T may also progress to leukemia.

The use of above therapies is contemplated for patients diagnosedpositive or negative for the presence of mutant calreticulin inaccordance with the present invention, either alone or in combinationwith therapies (e.g. antibodies) specifically targeting the mutantcalreticulin. Accordingly, therapies (e.g. antibodies) that targetmutant CALR, can likewise be useful in treatment if used as monotherapyor in combination with other therapies. For example, interferon alfatherapy can be used to treat patients with MPN (like essentialthrombocythemia patients) diagnosed positive for the presence of mutantcalreticulin in accordance with the present invention.

If, for example, the patient is tested positive for the presence ofmutant calreticulin and (a) JAK2 mutation(s), the use of JAKinhibitor(s) (like ruxolitinib) is contemplated herein. Depending onclinical parameters, (e.g age, prognosis of the patient) also furthertherapies, like stem cell transplantation can be used to treat e.g. apatient tested positive for the presence of mutant calreticulin.

Inhibitors for use in accordance with the present invention aredescribed and provided herein. Also the use of inhibitors yet to begenerated or known compounds to be tested for their inhibiting activityis envisaged in context of the present invention.

Therefore, the present invention provides a method for assessing theactivity of a candidate molecule suspected of being an inhibitor of amutant calreticulin as defined and provided herein comprising the stepsof:

-   (a) contacting a cell, tissue or a non-human animal comprising a    mutant calreticulin with said candidate molecule;-   (b) detecting a decrease in activity of said mutant calreticulin;    and-   (c) selecting a candidate molecule that decreases activity of said    mutant calreticulin;    -   wherein a decrease of the activity is indicative for the        capacity of the selected molecule to be useful in the treatment        of myeloid malignancy as defined herein.

Also a decrease in the (expression) level can indicate usefulinhibitors.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing the activity ofa candidate molecule suspected of being an inhibitor of a mutantcalreticulin as defined and provided herein comprising the steps of:

-   (a) contacting a cell, tissue or a non-human animal comprising a    mutant calreticulin with said candidate molecule;-   (b) detecting a decrease in the (expression) level of said mutant    calreticulin; and-   (c) selecting a candidate molecule that decreases the (expression)    level of said mutant calreticulin;    -   wherein a decrease of the (expression) level is indicative for        the capacity of the selected molecule to be useful in the        treatment of myeloid malignancy as defined herein.

The mutant calreticulin can be any of the mutant calreticulinproteins/polypeptides as defined herein above or any of the nucleicacids (particularly mRNAs) as defined herein, which encode the mutantcalreticulin proteins/polypeptides.

The mutant calreticulin proteins can comprise or consist of the aminoacid sequence of the polypeptides shown in 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32,36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100,104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, 148, 152, 156,160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212,216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268,272, 276, 280, 284, 288, 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326,330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382,386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, and 434,respectively. Also the use of fragments or derivatives of these proteinsas defined above is envisaged in this context.

The mutant calreticulin nucleic acids can comprise or consist of thenucleic acids shown in 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18,19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42,43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66,67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 89, 90,91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110, 111,113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126, 127, 129, 130,131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, 143, 145, 146, 147, 149,150, 151, 153, 154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167,169, 170, 171, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186,187, 189, 190, 191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205,206, 207, 209, 210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223,225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242,243, 245, 246, 247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261,262, 263, 265, 266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279,281, 282, 283, 285, 286, 287, 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299, 300,301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317, 319,320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336, 337,339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355, 356,357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373, 375,376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392, 393,395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411, 412,413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 431,432, and 433, respectively.

Further, the present invention provides the use of (a) nucleic acid(s)(e.g. oligonucleotide(s) like primer(s)/primer pair(s) or probe(s) asdescribed below) or antibody capable of detecting the presence of one ormore mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene or the presence or amountof a gene product of one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin geneas defined herein for the methods of the present invention, i.e. forassessing whether a patient suffers from a myeloid malignancy or isprone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy.

The oligonucleotide(s) may be about 15 to 100 nucleotides in length. Aperson skilled in the art is, based on his general knowledge and theteaching provided herein, easily in the position to identify and/orprepare (a) an oligo- or polynucleotide capable of detecting thepresence of one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene or thepresence or amount of a gene product of one or more mutant alleles ofthe calreticulin gene as defined herein. These oligo- or polynucleotidesmay be used as probe(s) or primers in the methods provided herein. Oftenprimers and/or probes have a length of 10 to 30 nucleotides.Accordingly, the invention relates to a) nucleic acid(s) (in particular(a) primer(s) or (a) probe(s)) capable of detecting the presence of oneor more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene or the presence oramount of a gene product of one or more mutant alleles of thecalreticulin gene as defined herein, wherein said nucleic acid issmaller than 50, 49, 48, 47, 46, 45, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40, 39, 38, 37, 36,35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, or 20nucleotides and is larger than 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15nucleotides. Preferably, the nucleic acid has a length of 10 to 35nucleotides, more preferably 15 to 25 nucleotides, particularlypreferred a length of 18 to 21, e.g. 18, 19, 20 or 21 nucleotides. Thesenucleic acid(s) may hybridize under stringent conditions to thecomplementary strand of the nucleic acid mutant calreticulin as definedand provided herein above.

A skilled person will know, for example, computer programs which may beuseful for the identification of corresponding probes/primers to be usedherein. For example, the nucleic acid sequence(s) of exemplary codingsequences as disclosed herein (SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11,13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35,37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59,61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83,85, 86, 87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106,107, 109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125,126, 127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, 143,145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153, 154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162,163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181,182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199,201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209, 210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218,219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237,238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246, 247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255,257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274,275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283, 285, 286, 287, 291, 292, 293, 295,296, 297, 299, 300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313,315, 316, 317, 319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332,333, 335, 336, 337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351,352, 353, 355, 356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369,371, 372, 373, 375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388,389, 391, 392, 393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407,408, 409, 411, 412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425,427, 428, 429, 431, 432, and 433, respectively) may be used in thiscontext.

Also the sequences disclosed in the following table may be used in thiscontext:

Sequences of mutation junctions in the cDNA sequence of CALRfor the design of mutation specific probes or PCR primers. CALR mutationcDNA junction sequences in mutated positions Type 1GAAGGACAAACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGATGAT Type 2GAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAATTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAG Type 3GGACAAACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGAT Type 4CAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGG Type 5TGAAGGACAAACAGGACGAGGGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGATGA Type 6AGGACAAACAGGACGAGGAGCGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGA Type 7CAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAG Type 8GGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAG Type 9CAAGAAACGCAAAGAGGAGGAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGAT Type 10 AGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACATGTGTC GGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAG Type 11 AAGGACAAACAGGACGAGGA

CAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGAT Type 12CAAACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGAC Type 13 AACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCA GAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAG Type 14ACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAG Type 15CAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGAGG

AGAGGACAAGGAGGATGATG Type 16 CAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTT CAGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAG Type 17 GGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGAGGCAG

GGACAAGGAGGATGATGAGG Type 18 GGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGATType 19 GGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGGAGGAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGAT Type 20GGCTTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGA Type 21 GGCTTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGCGTTTA AGAGGACAAGGAGGATGATGA Type 22CTTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAACGCAAAGAGGAGGAGGAGG Type 23 CTTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACTGCGT GAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGAC Type 24CTTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGG Type 25 TAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAAA AGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGATG Type 26TAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAAAAACGCAAAGAGGAGGAGGAG Type 27 AAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAAGTGTTT CGCAAAGAGGAGGAGGAGGCA Type 28GGAAGAAGACAAGAAACGCAAAAGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAA Type 29 GAAGACAAGAAACGCAAAGAGCCTCCTCTTTGTCT AAGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAA Type 30 AGACAAGAAACGCAAAGAGGACCATCCTTGTC GGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGA Type 31 AGAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGG

CAATTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAG Type 32 GAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGAC TGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGA Type 33GAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAATGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAG Type 34AGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACA CTTGTC GGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGA Type 35AGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACA TTTGTC GGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGA Type 36AGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGA Bold letters indicate theborders of a deletion event; underlined letters indicate insertedsequences; Bold and italic letters indicate single nucleotide variants

Examplary oligonucleotides (primers) provided herein and to be used inaccordance with the present invention are

Forward: (SEQ ID NO: 437) ACAACTTCCTCATCACCAACG and/or Reverse:(SEQ ID NO: 438) GGCCTCAGTCCAGCCCTG Forward: (SEQ ID NO: 439)GGCAAGGCCCTGAGGTGT and/or Reverse: (SEQ ID NO: 438) GGCCTCAGTCCAGCCCTG

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to transgenic cell or atransgenic non-human animal having the nucleic acid as described andexplained herein (or a vector comprising same), e.g. a nucleic acidcomprising at least one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin geneas defined herein. Such transgenic cell(s) or a transgenic non-humananimal(s) can be used for screening and/or validation of a medicamentfor the treatment of a myeloid malignancy.

The term “cell” as used in this context may also comprise a plurality ofcells as well as cells comprised in a tissue. The cell to be used in thescreening or validation method may be obtained from samples from a(transgenic) non-human animal or human suffering from a myeloidmalignancy. The tumor cell or cell may also be obtained from patientsamples (e.g. biopsies), in particular a biopsy/biopsies from apatient/subject suffering from a myeloid malignancy. Accordingly, thecell may be a human cell. Again, such a cell to be used in the presentscreening or validation methods may be comprised in a tissue or tissuesample, like in a sample biopsy.

The used non-human animal or cell may be transgenic or non transgenic.“Transgenic” in this context particularly means that at least one of themutant calreticulins as described or defined herein is (over-) expressedand/or that the activity of at least one of the mutant calreticulins ispresent (or increased).

A preferred (transgenic) non-human animal or (transgenic) cell incontext of the invention suffers from a myeloid malignancy.

The term “transgenic non-human animal” or “transgenic cell” as usedherein refers to an non-human animal or cell, not being a human, thatcomprises genetic material different from the genetic material of acorresponding wild-type animal/cell. “Genetic material” in this contextmay be any kind of a nucleic acid molecule, or analogues thereof, forexample a nucleic acid molecule, or analogues thereof as defined herein.“Different” in this context means additional or fewer genetic materialwith respect to the genome of the wild-type animal/cell and/orrearranged genetic material, i.e. genetic material present at adifferent locus of the genome with respect to the genome of thewild-type animal/cell. An overview of examples of different expressionsystems to be used for generating transgenic cell/animal is, forinstance, contained in Methods in Enzymology 153 (1987), 385-516, inBitter et al. (Methods in Enzymology 153 (1987), 516-544) and in Sawerset al. (Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 46 (1996), 1-9),Billman-Jacobe (Current Opinion in Biotechnology 7 (1996), 500-4),Hockney (Trends in Biotechnology 12 (1994), 456-463), Griffiths et al.,(Methods in Molecular Biology 75 (1997), 427-440).

In a preferred embodiment, the (transgenic) non-human animal or(transgenic) cell is or is derived from a mammal Non-limiting examplesof the (transgenic) non-human animal or derived (transgenic) cell areselected from the group consisting of a mouse, a rat, a rabbit, and aguinea pig.

The present invention also relates to a vector comprising the nucleicacid molecule of the present invention.

Many suitable vectors are known to those skilled in molecular biology,the choice of which would depend on the function desired and includeplasmids, cosmids, viruses, bacteriophages and other vectors usedconventionally in genetic engineering. Methods which are well known tothose skilled in the art can be used to construct various plasmids andvectors; see, for example, the techniques described in Sambrook et al.(loc cit.) and Ausubel, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, GreenPublishing Associates and Wiley Interscience, N.Y. (1989), (1994).Alternatively, the polynucleotides and vectors of the invention can bereconstituted into liposomes for delivery to target cells. As discussedin further details below, a cloning vector was used to isolateindividual sequences of DNA. Relevant sequences can be transferred intoexpression vectors where expression of a particular polypeptide isrequired. Typical cloning vectors include pBluescript SK, pGEM, pUC9,pBR322 and pGBT9. Typical expression vectors include pTRE, pCAL-n-EK,pESP-1, pOP13CAT.

Preferably said vector comprises a nucleic acid sequence which is aregulatory sequence operably linked to said nucleic acid sequencedefined herein.

The term “regulatory sequence” refers to DNA sequences, which arenecessary to effect the expression of coding sequences to which they areligated. The nature of such control sequences differs depending upon thehost organism. In prokaryotes, control sequences generally includepromoter, ribosomal binding site, and terminators. In eukaryotesgenerally control sequences include promoters, terminators and, in someinstances, enhancers, transactivators or transcription factors. The term“control sequence” is intended to include, at a minimum, all componentsthe presence of which are necessary for expression, and may also includeadditional advantageous components.

The term “operably linked” refers to a juxtaposition wherein thecomponents so described are in a relationship permitting them tofunction in their intended manner A control sequence “operably linked”to a coding sequence is ligated in such a way that expression of thecoding sequence is achieved under conditions compatible with the controlsequences. In case the control sequence is a promoter, it is obvious fora skilled person that double-stranded nucleic acid is preferably used.

Thus, the recited vector is preferably an expression vector. An“expression vector” is a construct that can be used to transform aselected host and provides for expression of a coding sequence in theselected host. Expression vectors can for instance be cloning vectors,binary vectors or integrating vectors. Expression comprisestranscription of the nucleic acid molecule preferably into atranslatable mRNA. Regulatory elements ensuring expression inprokaryotes and/or eukaryotic cells are well known to those skilled inthe art. In the case of eukaryotic cells they comprise normallypromoters ensuring initiation of transcription and optionally poly-Asignals ensuring termination of transcription and stabilization of thetranscript. Possible regulatory elements permitting expression inprokaryotic host cells comprise, e.g., the P_(L), lac, trp or wepromoter in E. coli, and examples of regulatory elements permittingexpression in eukaryotic host cells are the AOX1 or GAL1 promoter inyeast or the CMV-, SV40-, RSV-promoter (Rous sarcoma virus),CMV-enhancer, SV40-enhancer or a globin intron in mammalian and otheranimal cells.

Beside elements, which are responsible for the initiation oftranscription such regulatory elements may also comprise transcriptiontermination signals, such as the SV40-poly-A site or the tk-poly-A site,downstream of the polynucleotide. Furthermore, depending on theexpression system used leader sequences capable of directing thepolypeptide to a cellular compartment or secreting it into the mediummay be added to the coding sequence of the recited nucleic acid sequenceand are well known in the art; see also the appended Examples. Theleader sequence(s) is (are) assembled in appropriate phase withtranslation, initiation and termination sequences, and preferably, aleader sequence capable of directing secretion of translated protein, ora portion thereof, into the periplasmic space or extracellular medium.Optionally, the heterologous sequence can encode a fusion proteinincluding an N-terminal identification peptide imparting desiredcharacteristics, e.g., stabilization or simplified purification ofexpressed recombinant product; see supra. In this context, suitableexpression vectors are known in the art such as Okayama-Berg cDNAexpression vector pcDV1 (Pharmacia), pCDM8, pRc/CMV, pcDNA1, pcDNA3(In-vitrogene), pEF-DHFR, pEF-ADA or pEF-neo (Mack et al. PNAS (1995)92, 7021-7025 and Raum et al. Cancer Immunol Immunother (2001) 50(3),141-150) or pSPORT1 (GIBCO BRL).

Preferably, the expression control sequences will be eukaryotic promotersystems in vectors capable of transforming of transfecting eukaryotichost cells, but control sequences for prokaryotic hosts may also beused. Once the vector has been incorporated into the appropriate host,the host is maintained under conditions suitable for high levelexpression of the nucleotide sequences, and as desired, the collectionand purification of the polypeptide of the invention may follow; see,e.g., the appended examples.

An alternative expression system, which can be used to express a cellcycle interacting protein is an insect system. In one such system,Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) is used as avector to express foreign genes in Spodoptera frugiperda cells or inTrichoplusia larvae. The coding sequence of a recited nucleic acidmolecule may be cloned into a nonessential region of the virus, such asthe polyhedrin gene, and placed under control of the polyhedrinpromoter. Successful insertion of said coding sequence will render thepolyhedrin gene inactive and produce recombinant virus lacking coatprotein coat. The recombinant viruses are then used to infect S.frugiperda cells or Trichoplusia larvae in which the protein of theinvention is expressed (Smith, J. Virol. 46 (1983), 584; Engelhard,Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 91 (1994), 3224-3227).

Additional regulatory elements may include transcriptional as well astranslational enhancers. Advantageously, the above-described vectors ofthe invention comprise a selectable and/or scorable marker.

Selectable marker genes useful for the selection of transformed cellsand, e.g., plant tissue and plants are well known to those skilled inthe art and comprise, for example, antimetabolite resistance as thebasis of selection for dhfr, which confers resistance to methotrexate(Reiss, Plant Physiol. (Life Sci. Adv.) 13 (1994), 143-149); npt, whichconfers resistance to the aminoglycosides neomycin, kanamycin andparomycin (Herrera-Estrella, EMBO J. 2 (1983), 987-995) and hygro, whichconfers resistance to hygromycin (Marsh, Gene 32 (1984), 481-485).Additional selectable genes have been described, namely trpB, whichallows cells to utilize indole in place of tryptophan; hisD, whichallows cells to utilize histinol in place of histidine (Hartman, Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85 (1988), 8047); mannose-6-phosphate isomerasewhich allows cells to utilize mannose (WO 94/20627) and ODC (ornithinedecarboxylase) which confers resistance to the ornithine decarboxylaseinhibitor, 2-(difluoromethyl)-DL-ornithine, DFMO (McConlogue, 1987, In:Current Communications in Molecular Biology, Cold Spring HarborLaboratory ed.) or deaminase from Aspergillus terreus which confersresistance to Blasticidin S (Tamura, Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 59(1995), 2336-2338).

Useful scorable markers are also known to those skilled in the art andare commercially available. Advantageously, said marker is a geneencoding luciferase (Giacomin, Pl. Sci. 116 (1996), 59-72; Scikantha, J.Bact. 178 (1996), 121), green fluorescent protein (Gerdes, FEBS Lett.389 (1996), 44-47) or β-glucuronidase (Jefferson, EMBO J. 6 (1987),3901-3907). This embodiment is particularly useful for simple and rapidscreening of cells, tissues and organisms containing a recited vector.

As described above, the recited nucleic acid molecule can be used aloneor as part of a vector to express the polypeptide of the invention incells, for, e.g., purification but also for gene therapy purposes. Thenucleic acid molecules or vectors containing the DNA sequence(s)encoding any one of the above described polypeptide of the invention isintroduced into the cells which in turn produce the polypeptide ofinterest. Gene therapy, which is based on introducing therapeutic genesinto cells by ex-vivo or in-vivo techniques is one of the most importantapplications of gene transfer. Suitable vectors, methods orgene-delivery systems for in-vitro or in-vivo gene therapy are describedin the literature and are known to the person skilled in the art; see,e.g., Giordano, Nature Medicine 2 (1996), 534-539; Schaper, Circ. Res.79 (1996), 911-919; Anderson, Science 256 (1992), 808-813; Verma, Nature389 (1994), 239; Isner, Lancet 348 (1996), 370-374; Muhlhauser, Circ.Res. 77 (1995), 1077-1086; Onodera, Blood 91 (1998), 30-36; Verma, GeneTher. 5 (1998), 692-699; Nabel, Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 811 (1997),289-292; Verzeletti, Hum. Gene Ther. 9 (1998), 2243-51; Wang, NatureMedicine 2 (1996), 714-716; WO 94/29469; WO 97/00957, U.S. Pat. Nos.5,580,859; 5,589,466; or Schaper, Current Opinion in Biotechnology 7(1996), 635-640. The recited nucleic acid molecules and vectors may bedesigned for direct introduction or for introduction via liposomes, orviral vectors (e.g., adenoviral, retroviral) into the cell. Preferably,said cell is a germ line cell, embryonic cell, or egg cell or derivedthere from, most preferably said cell is a stem cell. An example for anembryonic stem cell can be, inter alia, a stem cell as described inNagy, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90 (1993), 8424-8428.

The invention also provides for a host transformed or transfected with avector of the invention. Said host may be produced by introducing theabove described vector of the invention or the above described nucleicacid molecule of the invention into the host. The presence of at leastone vector or at least one nucleic acid molecule in the host may mediatethe expression of a gene encoding the above described single chainantibody constructs.

The described nucleic acid molecule or vector of the invention, which isintroduced in the host may either integrate into the genome of the hostor it may be maintained extrachromosomally.

The host can be any prokaryote or eukaryotic cell.

The term “prokaryote” is meant to include all bacteria, which can betransformed or transfected with DNA or RNA molecules for the expressionof a protein of the invention. Prokaryotic hosts may include gramnegative as well as gram positive bacteria such as, for example, E.coli, S. typhimurium, Serratia marcescens and Bacillus subtilis. Theterm “eukaryotic” is meant to include yeast, higher plant, insect andpreferably mammalian cells. Depending upon the host employed in arecombinant production procedure, the protein encoded by thepolynucleotide of the present invention may be glycosylated or may benon-glycosylated. Especially preferred is the use of a plasmid or avirus containing the coding sequence of the polypeptide of the inventionand genetically fused thereto an N-terminal FLAG-tag and/or C-terminalHis-tag. Preferably, the length of said FLAG-tag is about 4 to 8 aminoacids, most preferably 8 amino acids. An above described polynucleotidecan be used to transform or transfect the host using any of thetechniques commonly known to those of ordinary skill in the art.Furthermore, methods for preparing fused, operably linked genes andexpressing them in, e.g., mammalian cells and bacteria are well-known inthe art (Sambrook, loc cit.).

Preferably, said the host is a bacterium or an insect, fungal, plant oranimal cell.

It is particularly envisaged that the recited host may be a mammaliancell. Particularly preferred host cells comprise CHO cells, COS cells,myeloma cell lines like SP2/0 or NS/0. As illustrated in the appendedexamples, particularly preferred are CHO-cells as hosts.

More preferably said host cell is a human cell or human cell line, e.g.per.c6 (Kroos, Biotechnol. Prog., 2003, 19:163-168).

In a further embodiment, the present invention thus relates to a processfor the production of a polypeptide of the invention, said processcomprising culturing a host of the invention under conditions allowingthe expression of the polypeptide of the invention and recovering theproduced polypeptide from the culture.

The transformed hosts can be grown in fermentors and cultured accordingto techniques known in the art to achieve optimal cell growth. Thepolypeptide of the invention can then be isolated from the growthmedium, cellular lysates, or cellular membrane fractions. The isolationand purification of the, e.g., microbially expressed polypeptides of theinvention may be by any conventional means such as, for example,preparative chromatographic separations and immunological separationssuch as those involving the use of monoclonal or polyclonal antibodiesdirected, e.g., against a tag of the polypeptide of the invention or asdescribed in the appended examples.

The conditions for the culturing of a host, which allow the expressionare known in the art to depend on the host system and the expressionsystem/vector used in such process. The parameters to be modified inorder to achieve conditions allowing the expression of a recombinantpolypeptide are known in the art. Thus, suitable conditions can bedetermined by the person skilled in the art in the absence of furtherinventive input.

Once expressed, the polypeptide of the invention can be purifiedaccording to standard procedures of the art, including ammonium sulfateprecipitation, affinity columns, column chromatography, gelelectrophoresis and the like; see, Scopes, “Protein Purification”,Springer-Verlag, N.Y. (1982). Substantially pure polypeptides of atleast about 90 to 95% homogeneity are preferred, and 98 to 99% or morehomogeneity are most preferred, for pharmaceutical uses. Once purified,partially or to homogeneity as desired, the polypeptide of the inventionmay then be used therapeutically (including extracorporeally) or indeveloping and performing assay procedures. Furthermore, examples formethods for the recovery of the polypeptide of the invention from aculture are described in detail in the appended examples.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a kit useful for carryingout the methods of the invention, the kit comprising a nucleic acid oran antibody capable of detecting the presence of a one or more mutantalleles of the calreticulin gene or the presence or amount of a geneproduct of one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene asdefined herein. Also envisaged herein is the use of the herein describedkit for carrying out the herein provided methods.

For example, said kit may comprise (a) compound(s) required forspecifically determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles ofthe calreticulin gene or the presence or amount of a gene product of oneor more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene as defined herein.Moreover, the present invention also relates to the use of (a)compound(s) required for specifically determining the presence of one ormore mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene or the presence or amountof a gene product of one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin geneas defined herein for the preparation of a kit for carrying out themethods of this invention. On the basis of the teaching of thisinvention, the skilled person knows which compound(s) is (are) requiredfor specifically determining the presence of one or more mutant allelesof the calreticulin gene or the presence or amount of a gene product ofone or more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene as defined herein.For example, such compound(s) may be (a) “binding molecule(s)”, like,for example, (a) antibody. Particularly, such compound(s) may be (a)(nucleotide) probe(s), (a) primer(s) (pair(s)), (an) antibody(ies)and/or (an) aptamer(s) specific for at least one mutant allele of thecalreticulin gene or for a gene product of at least one mutant allelesof the calreticulin gene as defined herein. The kit (to be prepared incontext) of this invention may be a diagnostic kit. As mentioned above,the determination of the presence of one (or more) mutant alleles of thecalreticulin gene or of a gene product thereof as described herein canbe performed as a stand-alone analysis. Alternatively, this analysis canbe followed or preceded by the analysis of other markers for myeloidmalignancies, such as JAK2 and MPL mutations. Also simultaneousdetermination of such markers is envisaged, like the simultaneous testfor JAK2 mutation(s) and mutant calreticulin (and, optinally, furthermarkers), or the simultaneous test of JAK2 mutation(s), mutantcalreticulin and MPL mutation(s) (and, optinally, further markers).According (a) kit(s) (or uses of such kits) is/are envisaged herein thatprovide means for such subsequent or simultaneous tests. For example,said kit may comprise, in addition to (a) compound(s) required forspecifically determining the presence (or amount) of one or more mutantalleles of the calreticulin gene (or of a gene product thereof), (a)compound(s) required for specifically determining the presence as JAK2and/or MPL mutations (and optionally further markers), e.g. (a)antibody(ies), (a) (nucleotide) probe(s), (a) primer(s) (pair(s)), (an)antibody(ies) and/or (an) aptamer(s) specific that allow the specificdetection of JAK2 and MPL mutations (and optionally further markers).

The kit (to be prepared in context) of this invention may furthercomprise or be provided with (an) instruction manual(s). For example,said instruction manual(s) may guide the skilled person (how) todetermine the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the calreticulingene or the presence or amount of a gene product of one or more mutantalleles of the calreticulin gene as defined herein and/or (how) todiagnose myeloid malignancy. Said instruction manual(s) may compriseguidance to use or apply the herein provided methods or uses. The kit(to be prepared in context) of this invention may further comprisesubstances/chemicals and/or equipment suitable/required for carrying outthe methods and uses of this invention. For example, suchsubstances/chemicals and/or equipment are solvents, diluents and/orbuffers for stabilizing and/or storing (a) compound(s) required forspecifically determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles ofthe calreticulin gene or the presence or amount of a gene product of oneor more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene as defined herein.

As used herein, the terms “comprising” and “including” or grammaticalvariants thereof are to be taken as specifying the stated features,integers, steps or components but do not preclude the addition of one ormore additional features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.This term encompasses the terms “consisting of” and “consistingessentially of.” Thus, the terms “comprising”/“including”/“having” meanthat any further component (or likewise features, integers, steps andthe like) can be present.

The term “consisting of” means that no further component (or likewisefeatures, integers, steps and the like) can be present.

The term “consisting essentially of” or grammatical variants thereofwhen used herein are to be taken as specifying the stated features,integers, steps or components but do not preclude the addition of one ormore additional features, integers, steps, components or groups thereofbut only if the additional features, integers, steps, components orgroups thereof do not materially alter the basic and novelcharacteristics of the claimed composition, device or method.

Thus, the term “consisting essentially of” means that specific furthercomponents (or likewise features, integers, steps and the like) can bepresent, namely those not materially affecting the essentialcharacteristics of the composition, device or method. In other words,the term “consisting essentially of” (which can be interchangeably usedherein with the term “comprising substantially”), allows the presence ofother components in the composition, device or method in addition to themandatory components (or likewise features, integers, steps and thelike), provided that the essential characteristics of the device ormethod are not materially affected by the presence of other components.

The term “method” refers to manners, means, techniques and proceduresfor accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, thosemanners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readilydeveloped from known manners, means, techniques and procedures bypractitioners of the chemical, biological and biophysical arts.

As used herein, the term “isolated” refers to a composition that hasbeen removed from its in-vivo location. Preferably the isolatedcompositions or compounds of the present invention are substantiallyfree from other substances (e.g., other proteins or other compounds)that are present in their in-vivo location (i.e. purified orsemi-purified compositions or compounds.)

As used herein the term “about” refers to ±10%.

The present invention relates to the following items:

-   1. A method for assessing whether a patient suffers from a myeloid    malignancy or is prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy, said    method comprising    -   determining the presence of one or more mutant alleles of the        calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient; and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from a myeloid malignancy or        is prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy when said one or        more mutant alleles of the calreticulin gene is present.-   2. The method according to item 1, wherein said myeloid malignancy    is selected from the group consisting of primary myelofibrosis    (PMF), essential thrombocythemia (ET) and refractory anemia with    ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T).-   3. The method according to item 1 or 2,    -   wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acid        encoding a mutant calreticulin protein, wherein said mutant        calreticulin protein is selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 4;    -   (c) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 4;    -   (d) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in        (a);    -   (e) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (d); and    -   (f) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (c)        or (d).-   4. The method according to item 3, wherein said mutant calreticulin    protein is selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6,        7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27,        29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49,        50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70,        71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 89, 90, 91,        93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110,        111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126, 127,        129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, 143, 145,        146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153, 154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162,        163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179,        181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 193, 194, 195, 197,        198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209, 210, 211, 213, 214,        215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231,        233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246, 247, 249,        250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266,        267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283,        285, 286, 287, 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299, 300, 301, 303,        304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317, 319, 320,        321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336, 337,        339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,        356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372,        373, 375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389,        391, 392, 393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407,        408, 409, 411, 412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424,        425, 427, 428, 429, 431, 432, 433;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60,        64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116,        120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168,        172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220,        224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272,        276, 280, 284, 288, 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326,        330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378,        382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430,        434;    -   (c) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60,        64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116,        120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168,        172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220,        224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272,        276, 280, 284, 288, 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326,        330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378,        382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430,        434;    -   (d) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in        (a);    -   (e) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (d); and    -   (f) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (c)        or (d).-   5. The method according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein said    mutant allele has a frameshift mutation in exon 9 of the    calreticulin gene compared to the wild-type calreticulin gene,    wherein said frameshift mutation is the deletion of one nucleotide    or the addition of two nucleotides.-   6. The method according to any one of items 1 to 5, wherein said    mutant allele comprises a nucleic acid selected from the group    consisting of    -   (a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24,        28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,        92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140,        144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192,        196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244,        248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, 288; 294, 298,        302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350,        354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,        406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO: 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49,        53, 57, 61, 65, 69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89, 93, 97, 101, 105, 109,        113, 117, 121, 125, 129, 133, 137, 141, 145, 149, 153, 157, 161,        165, 169, 173, 177, 181, 185, 189, 193, 197, 201, 205, 209, 213,        217, 221, 225, 229, 233, 237, 241, 245, 249, 253, 257, 261, 265,        269, 273, 277, 281, 285, 291, 295, 299, 303, 307, 311, 315, 319,        323, 327, 331, 335, 339, 343, 347, 351, 355, 359, 363, 367, 371,        375, 379, 383, 387, 391, 395, 399, 403, 407, 411, 415, 419, 423,        427, or 431;    -   (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or        (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of (a) to (d);    -   wherein said mutant allele is DNA, preferably genomic DNA.-   7. A method for assessing whether a patient suffers from a myeloid    malignancy or is prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy, said    method comprising    -   determining the presence of a gene product of one or more mutant        alleles of the calreticulin gene in a sample from said patient;        and    -   assessing that said patient suffers from a myeloid malignancy or        is prone to suffering from a myeloid malignancy when said gene        product is present.-   8. The method according to item 7,    -   wherein said one or more mutant alleles comprises a nucleic acid        encoding a mutant calreticulin protein, wherein said mutant        calreticulin protein is selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 4;    -   (c) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 4;    -   (d) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in        (a);    -   (e) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (d); and    -   (f) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (c)        or (d).-   9. The method according to item 7 or 8, wherein said mutant    calreticulin protein is selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6,        7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27,        29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49,        50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70,        71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 89, 90, 91,        93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110,        111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126, 127,        129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, 143, 145,        146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153, 154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162,        163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179,        181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 193, 194, 195, 197,        198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209, 210, 211, 213, 214,        215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231,        233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246, 247, 249,        250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266,        267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283,        285, 286, 287, 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299, 300, 301, 303,        304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317, 319, 320,        321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336, 337,        339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355,        356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372,        373, 375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389,        391, 392, 393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407,        408, 409, 411, 412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424,        425, 427, 428, 429, 431, 432, or 433;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60,        64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116,        120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314,        318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366,        370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418,        422, 426, 430, or 434;    -   (c) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60,        64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116,        120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168,        172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220,        224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272,        276, 280, 284, 288, 294, 298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326,        330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378,        382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430,        or 434;    -   (d) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in        (a);    -   (e) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and    -   (f) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (c)        or (d).-   10. The method according to any one of items 7 to 9, wherein said    gene product is mRNA or protein.-   11. A nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO:4;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;    -   (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or        (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of    -   (a) to (d).-   12. The nucleic acid according to item 11, wherein said nucleic acid    is selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino        acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24,        28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,        92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140,        144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192,        196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244,        248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, 288, 294, 298,        302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350,        354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,        406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;    -   (b) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence as depicted        in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18,        19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39,        41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61,        62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82,        83, 85, 86, 87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102,        103, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119,        121, 122, 123, 125, 126, 127, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137,        138, 139, 141, 142, 143, 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153, 154,        155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171,        173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189,        190, 191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206,        207, 209, 210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223,        225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241,        242, 243, 245, 246, 247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258,        259, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275,        277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283, 285, 286, 287, 291, 292, 293, 295,        296, 297, 299, 300, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312,        313, 315, 316, 317, 319, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329,        331, 332, 333, 335, 336, 337, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347,        348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355, 356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364,        365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373, 375, 376, 377, 379, 380, 381,        383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392, 393, 395, 396, 397, 399,        400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411, 412, 413, 415, 416,        417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 431, 432, or        433;    -   (c) a nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of the nucleic acid as defined in (a) or        (b);    -   (d) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence with at        least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic        acids of any one of (a) to (c); and    -   (e) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is        degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide        sequence of a nucleic acid of any one of    -   (a) to (d).-   13. A protein selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 4;    -   (c) a protein as defined in (a) or (b) wherein one or more amino        acids are deleted, inserted, added or substituted;    -   (d) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 4;    -   (e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a)        or (c);    -   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and    -   (g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (d)        or (e).-   14. The protein according to item 13, wherein said protein is    selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6,        7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27,        29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49,        50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70,        71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 89, 90, 91,        93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110,        111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126, 127,        129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, or 143;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60,        64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116,        120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;    -   (c) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60,        64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116,        120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, or 144;    -   (d) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in        (a);    -   (e) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (d); and    -   (f) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (c)        or (d).-   15. The protein according to item 13 or 14, wherein said protein is    selected from the group consisting of    -   (a) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the        nucleic acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 145, 146, 147,        149, 150, 151, 153, 154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165,        166, 167, 169, 170, 171, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182,        183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199,        201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 209, 210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217,        218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231, 233, 234,        235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246, 247, 249, 250, 251,        253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 267, 269,        270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283, 285, 286,        287, 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299, 300, 301, 303, 304, 305,        307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317, 319, 320, 321, 323,        324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336, 337, 339, 340,        341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355, 356, 357,        359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373, 375,        376, 377, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392,        393, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409,        411, 412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427,        428, 429, 431, 432, or 433;    -   (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ        ID NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188,        192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240,        244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, 288, 294,        298, 302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346,        350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398,        402, 406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;    -   (c) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a        protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID        NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192,        196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244,        248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280, 284, 288, 294, 298,        302, 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, 326, 330, 334, 338, 342, 346, 350,        354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 398, 402,        406, 410, 414, 418, 422, 426, 430, or 434;    -   (d) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid hybridizing under stringent conditions to the        complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in        (a);    -   (e) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (d); and    -   (f) a protein having at least 70% identity to the protein of any        one of (a) to (e); and    -   (g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a        nucleic acid being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to        the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid as defined in (a), (c)        or (d).-   16. The protein according to item 13 or 14, such as a protein    consisting of 15 to 25 contiguous amino acids of the protein as    shown in SEQ ID NO: 4, for use as vaccine.-   17. An antibody specifically binding to the protein of item 13 or    14.-   18. An inhibitor of a mutant calreticulin for use in the treatment    of primary myelofibrosis (PMF), essential thrombocythemia (ET), or    refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and thrombocythemia    (RARS-T) for use in the treatment of primary myelofibrosis (PMF),    essential thrombocythemia (ET), or refractory anemia with ringed    sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T); or    -   the protein for use as a vaccine according to item 16 in the        treatment of primary myelofibrosis (PMF), essential        thrombocythemia (ET), or refractory anemia with ringed        sideroblasts and thrombocythemia (RARS-T);    -   wherein said mutant calreticulin is a mutant calreticulin        protein as defined in any one of items 12 to 14.-   19. The inhibitor according to item 18, wherein said inhibitor is an    inhibitory antibody.

The present invention is further described by reference to the followingnon-limiting figures and examples.

The Figures show:

FIG. 1.

Validation of CALR gene mutations in patients 191 and 296 by Sangersequencing

Depicted are Sanger sequencing traces. Boxes around the sequence lettersmark the bases that are lost due to the deletion events. FIG. 1 showsSEQ ID NOs: 1324 to 1327.

FIGS. 2A-2C.

Frequency of CALR mutations in myeloid malignancies

FIG. 2A: Distribution of JAK2, MPL and CALR mutations in the threeclassical MPN disease entities. FIG. 2B: The frequency of patients withmutant CALR in different myeloid malignancies, is indicated by the darkbars. N, total numbers of patients analysed for a specific diseaseentity. FIG. 2C: Distribution of JAK2, MPL, CALR and SF3B1 mutations in24 patients with refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts associatedwith marked thrombocytosis. PV, polycythemia vera; ET, essentialthrombocythemia; PMF primary myelofibrosis; dnAML, de novo AML: CML,chronic myeloid leukaemia; MDS, myelodysplastic syndrome; CMML, chronicmyelomonocytic leukaemia; RARS-T, refractory anemia with ringsideroblasts associated with marked thrombocytosis.

FIGS. 3A-3E.

Mutational pattern of CALR mutations in MPN patients.

The wide black bar represents exon 9 of CALR, the narrow bar the 3′ UTRof the gene, the thin line intronic and intergenic regions.

FIG. 3A: indicated are the cDNA sequence in the beginning and end ofexon 9. Below the cDNA sequence are the amino acid sequences derivedfrom the three alternative reading frames. FIG. 3B: The three readingframes result in different peptide compositions, especially with respectto the charge of amino acids. FIG. 3C: Summary of all mutations detectedin MPN patients and their position within CALR exon 9. Bars indicatedeletion events, letters inserted sequences. Independent insertions anddeletions are depicted above the exon 9 scheme, combinedinsertion/deletion events below. FIG. 3D: The specific peptide makeup ofwild type CALR and of the two most frequently detected types ofmutations. FIGS. 3B, 3D: Each box represents an amino acid. Black boxeswith ‘−’ sign are negatively charged amino acids, boxes with ‘+’ signare positively charged amino acids. Crossed boxes represent stop codons.FIG. 3E: Relative frequencies of all 36 mutation types observed in CALR.

FIG. 3 shows SEQ ID NOs: 1328 to 1339.

FIGS. 4A-4B.

Association of CALR mutations with uniparental disomies and clonalhierarchies in patients with multiple somatic mutations

FIG. 4A: Affymetrix SNP 6.0 array data is shown for three samples thathad more than 50% burden of CALR mutations. Each dot represents a singleSNP. The x-axis shows the genomic position, the y-axis depicts theallelic status of the SNP. (heterozygous status=allelic difference of0). The array data shows 19p uniparental disomy of different sizes inthe three samples. Boxes indicate the genomic region of the uniparentaldisomies. To the right of each allelic difference plot, the results ofthe CALR exon 9 fragment analysis for the same sample is shown. In eachcase the burden of the mutant allele is higher than the wild type alleleburden. FIG. 4B: Clonal hierarchies derived from the analysis ofhematopoietic progenitor colonies. Patient H_0191 (top) harbored somaticmutations in a total of 4 genes. As shown in the bar chart, 51% of thecolonies had mutations in CALR, GAB2 and METTL11B. The other half of thecolonies (48%) had mutations in all four genes indicating that themutation in PHF16 was acquired later and gave rise to a subclone.Additionally, one colony harbored a one base pair deletion in CALR,different from the 52 base pair deletion that was observed in thegranulocyte sample and all other colonies of this patient. As thiscolony had none of the other mutations observed in the patient itrepresents an independent clone although this conclusion is based onlyon a single colony. Patient H_0296 (bottom) had somatic mutations inCALR, PIK3R1 and C10ORF71. All colonies analyzed for this patient hadall three mutations. One colony showed an 18 base pair deletion in CALRin addition to the 1 base pair deletion observed in this patient. Bothmutations were on the same allele.

FIGS. 5A-5C.

Clinical significance of CALR mutations

Outcome estimates in patients with essential thrombocythemia or primarymyelofibrosis stratified according to their somatic mutation. FIG. 5A:Kaplan-Meier analysis of overall survival in patients with primarymyelofibrosis. Subgroups were compared using the log-rank test. Patientswith myelofibrosis carrying a somatic mutation of CALR had a betteroverall survival than those with JAK2-V617F [median value 21.4 years(95% CI, 17.1-22.9) vs. 11.0 years (95% CI, 7.8-14.4), respectively;P<0.001] or MPL mutation [median value 8.2 years (95% CI, 2.0—notreached); P<0.001], while no difference was observed between the latter2 subgroups. FIG. 5B: Kaplan-Meier analysis of overall survival inpatients with essential thrombocythemia. Subgroups were compared usingthe log-rank test. Median value for overall survival was not reached inany subgroup. Patients with CALR mutation had better overall survivalcompared with those carrying JAK2-V617F. The 10-year overall survivalwas 96.9% (95% CI, 91.7-98.8%) in the former vs. 91.1% (95% CI,87.1-93.9%) in the latter (P=0.043). FIG. 5C: Cumulative incidence ofthrombosis in patients with essential thrombocythemia. Death in absenceof the event of interest was considered as a competing event, andsubgroups were compared with the Pepe and Mori's test. Patients carryinga CALR exon 9 mutation had a lower cumulative incidence of thrombosiscompared with those carrying JAK2-V617F: the 10-year cumulativeincidence was 11.0% (95% CI, 6.3-17.1%) in the former vs. 21.0% (95% CI,16.6-25.7%) in the latter (P=0.003).

FIGS. 6A-6D.

Functional analysis of CALR type 1 mutation

FIG. 6A: Cell viability of BaJF3 cells expressing an empty vector (GFP),wild type CALR (CALR wt-GFP) or mutant CALR (CALR del52-GFP) wasassessed after 72 hours in presence of increasing interleukin-3concentration. RLU, relative luminescence units. Error bars representstandard error of the mean. FIG. 6B: Cell proliferation of Ba/F3 cellsexpressing an empty vector (GFP), wild type CALR (CALR wt-GFP) or mutantCALR (CALR del52-GFP), in the absence of interleukin-3 was determinedfor 7 days. Error bars represent standard error of the mean. FIG. 6C:shows the activation of STAT5 in response to interleukin-3. Ba/F3 cellsexpressing the empty vector (GFP), the wild type CALR (wt), or the CALRmutant (del52) were starved for 4 hours in serum free medium withoutinterleukin-3 and were then stimulated for 20 minutes with 100 pg/ml and1 ng/ml of interleukin-3, as indicated. Western blot was performed onthe cell lysates with antibodies against pYSTAT5, STAT5, and CALR. Anantibody against GAPDH was used as loading control. FIG. 6D:Immunofluorescence was performed against CALR (third panel) and anendoplasmic reticulum specific marker (Calnexin, second panel), inHEK293T transfected with the respective constructs. The wild type CALRco-localizes with calnexin, in the endoplasmic reticulum (last panel).However, the mutant CALR is not constrained within the endoplasmicreticulum. The nucleus is stained with the dye DAPI (first panel).

FIG. 7.

The sensitivity of Ba/F3 cells to SAR302503.

Ba/F3 cells expressing the empty vector (GFP), CALR wild type (CALRwt-GFP) or CALR mutant (CALR del52-GFP) were analyzed by defining cellviability after 48 hours in presence of decreasing SAR302503. Forrelative viability, relative luminescence units were normalized to theDMSO control. Error bars represent standard error of the mean.

FIG. 8.

Western blot analysis was performed probing the sera of the fourimmunized mice, against lysates from HEK293T cells expressing the CALRmutant del52. The figure shows that the sera from all four immunizedmice did not have any antibodies against the mutant calreticulin peptidebefore immunization—p (pre-immunized lanes). They generated specificantibody after 2 booster doses.

FIG. 9.

Western blot analysis was performed probing the sera of the fourimmunized mice, against lysates from HEK293T cells expressing the CALRAexon9. The figure shows that the sera from all four immunized mice didnot have any antibodies against the CALR Aexon9 in both thepre-immunized sera (p) or after booster doses.

FIG. 10.

Western blot analysis was performed probing the sera of the fourimmunized mice, against lysates from HEK293T cells expressing the CALRmutant del52. The figure shows that the sera of all four immunized micehad more specific antibody against calreticulin mutant after the thirdbooster dose.

The Examples illustrate the invention.

EXAMPLE 1: SOMATIC MUTATIONS OF CALRETICULIN IN PRIMARY MYELOFIBROSISAND ESSENTIAL THROMBOCYTHEMIA

Material and Methods

Patient Sampling

We studied patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negativemyeloproliferative neoplasms followed at the Medical University ofVienna, Austria, and the Department of Hematology Oncology, FondazioneIRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy. The investigations have beenapproved by the ethics committees of both institutions, and all patientsprovided written informed consent. Diagnosis of polycythemia vera,essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis was done accordingto the 2008 criteria of the World Health Organization (Sverdlow et al,2008).

Diagnostic Criteria

Diagnosis of polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia and primarymyelofibrosis was done according to the criteria in use at the time ofthe first observation, as previously reported (Passamonti et al. 2004).In 2002 the criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO) were adopted(Vardiman et al, 2002) and in 2008 their revision was implemented(Swerdlow et al, 2008). JAK2 and MPL mutation analyses were performed aspreviously described (Passamonti et al, 2010a; Rumi et al, 2013;Passamonti et al, 2011) in Pavia and as outlined below in Vienna. Bonemarrow fibrosis was assessed semi-quantitatively following the Europeanconsensus guidelines (Thiele et al, 2005). Thrombotic events weredefined as described in detail previously (Marchioli et al, 2013).Patients were treated according to the recommendations that have beenformalized by the European Leukemia Net in 2011 (Barbui et al, 2011)

Assessment of JAK2-V617F, JAK2-Exon 12 and MPL-W515L Mutations in Vienna

An allele specific PCR assay was used to detect the JAK2-V617F mutation.A primer mix consisting of 4 μM of a common forward primer(gtttcttAGTGCATCTTTATTATGGCAGA (SEQ ID NO: 1340)), 2 μM of a reverseprimer specific for the wild type allele (TTACTCTCGTCTCCACAGAC (SEQ IDNO: 1341)) and 2 μM of a reverse primer specific for the mutant allele(aaaTTACTCTCGTCTCCACAGAA (SEQ ID NO: 1342)) was prepared. The tworeverse primers were fluorescently labeled with 6-carboxyfluorescein(6-FAM) on the 5′ end. A PCR reaction was set up using the AmpliTaq GoldDNA Polymerase with Gold Buffer and MgCl₂ (Applied Biosystems)containing 1.1 μl of the 10×PCR GOLD buffer, 0.66 μl of 25 mM MgCl₂,0.44 μl of 2.5 mM dNTPs, 1.4 μl of the primer mix, 0.05 μl of theAmpliTaq Gold polymerase (5 U/μ1), 6.36 μl H₂O and 1 μl genomic DNA (10ng/μl). PCR was performed as follows: 95° C. for 5 min-36×(94° C. for 30sec, 62.2° C. for 30 sec, 72° C. for 30 sec)-72° C. for 15 min-8° C.hold. The PCR products were sized on a 3130xl Genetic Analyzer (AppliedBiosystems) and the data were analyzed using Gene Mapper software(Applied Biosystems).

The assay used to detect mutations in JAK2 exon 12 was reported before(Li et al, 2008)

For testing for the MPL-W515L the following allele specific PCR assaywas used. A primer mix consisting of 8 μM of a common forward primer(GTTTCTTCCGAAGTCTGACCCTTTTTG (SEQ ID NO: 1343)), 4 μM of a reverseprimer specific for the wild type allele (GTAGTGTGCAGGAAACTGCC (SEQ IDNO: 1344)) and 4 μM of a reverse primer specific for the mutant allele(AAAGTAGTGTGCAGGAAACTGCA (SEQ ID NO: 1345)) was prepared. The tworeverse primers were fluorescently labeled with 6-carboxyfluorescein(6-FAM) on the 5′ end. A PCR reaction was set up as described above forJAK2-V617F mutation. PCR was performed as follows: 94° C. for 10min-30×(94° C. for 30 sec, 62.2° C. for 30 sec, 72° C. for 30 sec)-72°C. for 15 min-8° C. hold. The PCR products were sized on a 3130xlGenetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystems) and the data were analyzed usingGene Mapper software (Applied Biosystems).

Whole Exome Sequencing

Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood granulocytes (tumortissue) and CD3⁺ T-lymphocytes (control tissue) according to standardprocedures. DNA libraries were generated using the NEB Next DNA Sampleprep kit (reagent set) (New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Mass.) andwhole-exome enrichment was performed using the Sure Select Human AllExon kit (Agilent, Santa Clara, Calif.) according to the manufacturersinstructions. The libraries were sequenced on an Illumina HiSeq2000system (Illumina, San Diego, Calif.) following the manufacturersrecommendations. See Supplementary Table 1 for details on whole-exomesequencing parameters.

Supplementary Table 1 gDNA sequencing mean exonic bases covered at leastsample_ID source parameters total reads coverage 2× 10× 20× 30×H_0010B_GD granulocytes 52bp PE, 51bp PE 440,507,278 230 93.92% 82.95%80.45% 78.86% H_0010B_TD T-Iymphocytes 70bp SR, 75bp PE 305,708,053 18795.67% 87.27% 82.73% 79.58% H_0191B_GD granulocytes 70bp SR, 51bp PE329,139,581 163 95.93% 88.71% 84.26% 81.04% H_0191A_TD T-Iymphocytes70bp SR, 75bp PE 300,420,257 173 95.55% 88.26% 84.01% 80.81% H_0202B_GDgranulocytes 70bp SR, 51bp PE 286,094,080 149 95.41% 87.81% 83.32%79.84% H_0202B_TD T-Iymphocytes 70bp SR, 75bp PE 262,563,166 160 95.25%87.80% 83.44% 80.01% H_0296C_GD granulocytes 70bp SR, 51bp PE279,769,005 138 95.17% 87.45% 82.68% 78.78% H_0296C_TD T-Iymphocytes70bp SR, 75bp PE 266,487,695 158 95.34% 87.79% 83.36% 79.83% H_0333B_GDgranulocytes 70bp SR, 51bp PE 293,076,867 156 95.65% 88.23% 83.79%80.41% H_0333B_TD T-Iymphocytes 70bp SR, 75bp PE 260,476,597 155 94.99%87.47% 83.03% 79.50% H_0386B_GD granulocytes 70bp SR, 51bp PE285,286,604 148 95.58% 88.00% 83.48% 79.96% H_0386B_TD T-Iymphocytes70bp SR, 75bp PE 266,364,404 162 95.18% 87.69% 83.39% 79.98% minimum260,476,597 138 93.92% 82.95% 80.45% 78.78% maximum 440,507,278 23095.93% 88.71% 84.26% 81.04% average 297,991,132 165 95.30% 87.45% 83.16%79.88% gDNA, genomic DNA; bp, base pairs; PE, paired-end; SR single read

SUPPLEMENTARY TABLE 2Primers used to analyze the mutational status of CALR targeted CALRapplication exon forward primer sequence reverse primer sequenceSanger sequencing/ 9 ACAACTTCCTCATCACCAACG GGCCTCAGTCCAGCCCTGPCR product subcloning (SEQ ID NO: 437) (SEQ ID NO: 438)PCR fragment analysis 9 GGCAAGGCCCTGAGGTGT GGCCTCAGTCCAGCCCTG(SEQ ID NO: 439) (SEQ ID NO: 438) Sanger sequencing 1GTCAGGTTGGTTTGAGAGGC GCTAACCCTAACTCCCGCC (SEQ ID NO: 1310)(SEQ ID NO: 1311) Sanger sequencing 2 GGATCTCCTTTCCTGTCCCCCCACCTGTCCTCCTCCAAG (SEQ ID NO: 1312) (SEQ ID NO: 1313)Sanger sequencing 3 GAGGACAGGTGGAGGAAGTG AAATTGTTGCTGGGACTTATTC(SEQ ID NO: 1314) (SEQ ID NO: 1315) Sanger sequencing 4CAGACCCGAGTTGAAGAACC AGAAGGAAGAAGGTGAGCGG (SEQ ID NO: 1316)(SEQ ID NO: 1317) Sanger sequencing 5 CTGATCAACAAGGACATCCGCTCGGGCTTCTTAGCATCAG (SEQ ID NO: 1318) (SEQ ID NO: 1319)Sanger sequencing 6-7 AAGCCTGAGGTTGGTGTTTG CTCACCTGGGGTGCCTACC(SEQ ID NO: 1320) (SEQ ID NO: 1321) Sanger sequencing 8GTGTCAGCGGTGTTCCTTG TTAAGCCTCTGCTCCTCGTC (SEQ ID NO: 1322)(SEQ ID NO: 1323)

Whole-Exome Sequencing Analysis

The sequencing reads were aligned against the human reference genome(hg18) using BWA v0.5.9 (Li & Durbin, 2009). The genome analysis toolkit(GATK) v1.5 (McKenna et al, 2010) was used to post-process thealignments according to the best practices guidelines v3 of GATK. Thecoverage data presented in Supplementary Table 1 were calculated fromthe post-processed alignment files using the CalculateHsMetrics.jarscript from Picard (http://picard.sourceforge.net). The post-processedalignment files were further analyzed by two variant callers:

1. GATK's Unified Genotyper (DePristo et al, 2011) was used to callsingle nucleotide variants and small insertions/deletions from thegranulocyte DNA samples. The preliminary variant lists were furtherprocessed using the Variant Quality Score Recalibrator (GATK) togenerate recalibrated variant lists. The variants were annotated usingANNOVAR version 2012 May 25 (Wang et al, 2010). We filtered for variantsthat are found in coding exons and that affect the amino acidcomposition of the protein, as well as for variants at splice sites. 2.The Varscan 2.3.2 tool (Koboldt et al, 2012) was used to call somaticvariants comparing post-processed alignments from the granulocyte DNAsample with the alignments from the T-lymphocyte sample of the samepatient. Varscan was used according to the programmer's instructions.Samtools 0.1.18 (Li et al, 2009) generated the mpileup files needed asthe input for Varscan. Varscan hit lists were annotated by ANNOVAR andfiltered as described above. Intersecting the variant lists retrievedfrom the two variant calling pipelines, as follows, generated finalvariant lists. GATK provides a score for the likelihood of a variant tobe a true variant, which is the VQSLOD score. Varscan provides a p-valuefor a variant to be somatic. Basic requirements for final singlenucleotide variant (SNV) calling were that the variants had to be calledby both variant-calling pipelines and that the variant in thegranulocyte sample was not classified as “low quality” by GATK. From allSNVs falling into this category, all those were called which had aVQSLOD score >0 and a somatic p-value of <0.05. We also called variantswith a VQSLOD [−2;0] but required a somatic p-value of <0.01 for those.Insertion/deletion variant calling is more complex than SNV calling. Inorder not to miss true variants, we just required an insertion/deletionto be found by both pipelines. No further quality measures or p-valueswere required to call these variants.

Sanger Sequencing

Primers for Sanger Sequencing were designed using the PrimerZ tool(http://ncbi36.genepipe.ncgm.sinica.edu.tw/primerz/beginDesign.do) orthe Primer3 tool(http://www.bioinformatics.n1/cgi-bin/primer3plus/primer3plus.cgi/).Primer sequences are listed in Supplementary Table 2.

PCRs were performed using the AmpliTaq Gold 360 Mastermix (AppliedBiosystems/Life Technologies, Paisley, UK).

A touchdown program was used for the PCR: 95° C., 5 min-10× (94° C., 30sec-67° C., 30 sec [−1° C. per cycle]-72° C., 30 sec.)-29× (94° C., 30sec-57° C., 30 sec-72° C., 30 sec)-72° C., 10 min. 10° C., hold. ForSanger Sequencing the BigDye Terminator v3.1 Cycle Sequencing kit(Applied Biosystems) was used with the following program: 96° C., 1min-25× (96° C., 10 sec.-50° C., 5 sec.-60° C., 4 min)-10° C. hold.Sequencing traces were read on a 3130xl Genomic Analyzer (GeneticAnalyzer) ((Applied Biosystems). Sequence analysis was done using theSequencher Software 4.9 (Gene Codes, Ann Arbor, Mich.)

PCR Fragment Analysis for Detection of CALR-Exon9 Mutations

Primers were designed for CALR exon 9 and the forward primer was 6-FAMlabeled (Supplementary Table 2). PCR was performed as follows: 95° C.,10 min.-10× (94° C., 15 sec.-55° C., 15 sec.-72° C., 30 sec.)-20× (89°C., 15 sec.-55° C., 15 sec.-72° C., 30 sec.)-72° C., 20 min-10° C.,hold. PCR products were diluted 1:25 in water and sized on a 3130xlGenomic Analyzer (Genetic Analyzer) (Applied Biosystems). The resultswere analyzed using the Gene Mapper software version 4.0 (AppliedBiosystems).

PCR Product Subcloning

PCR products were subcloned with the TOPO TA cloning kit(Invitrogen/Life Technologies, Paisley, UK) following the manufacturer'sinstructions using TOP-10 bacteria. Single bacterial colonies werepicked the following day and expanded in an over-night culture. Plasmidswere extracted with the QIAprep Spin Mini Prep kit (Qiagen, Hilden,Germany) A sequencing reaction was set up using the BigDye Terminatorv3.1 Cycle Sequencing kit (Applied Biosystems): 50-200 ug plasmid, 4 ulPrimer, 1 ul BigDye Terminator mix, 1 ul sequencing buffer and HPLCwater up to 10 ul. The sequencing program was 96° C., 5 min-25× (96° C.,1 min-50° C., 5 sec.-60° C., 4 min.)-10° C. hold.

SNP Microarray Analysis

DNA samples were processed and hybridized to Genome-Wide Human SNP 6.0arrays (Affymetrix) according to the protocol supplied by themanufacturer. The raw data was analyzed by Genotyping Console version3.0.2 software (Affymetrix). The samples were assessed for chromosomalaberrations (deletions, gains and acquired uniparental disomies) asimplemented in the Genotyping Console software.

Cloning of CALR Exon 9 Mutations

The wild type and mutant CALR was amplified from the clone purchasedfrom Source Biosciences and cloned into the XhoI and EcoRI sites in theretroviral construct pMSCV-IRES-GFP. The wild type CALR was amplifiedusing the following primers—

(FP-ATGCCTCGAGCCGCCACCATGCTGCTATCCGTGCCGCTGCTGCTC(SEQ ID NO: 1346) and RP-ATGCGAATTCCTACAGCTCGTCCTTGGCCTGGCC (SEQ ID NO: 1347)).

The mutant CALR was amplified in two fragments followed by nested PCR—

(FP1-ATGCCTCGAGCCGCCACCATGCTGCTATCCGTGCCGCTGCTGCTC(SEQ ID NO: 1346), RP1-CCTCATCATCCTCCTTGTCCTCTGCTCCTCGTCCTG (SEQ ID NO: 1348), FP2-CAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGATGATGAGG (SEQ ID NO: 1349), RP2-ATGCCCGCGGCTAGGCCTCAGTCCAGCCCTGGAGG (SEQ ID NO: 1350))

Virus Production and Transduction

The retrovirus was generated and cells were transduced as describedbefore (Zuber et al, 2013). Briefly, PlatE cells (75% confluent in a 10cm dish) were transfected with 20 μg of the respective viral vectorusing the Calcium Phosphate Transfection Kit (Sigma # CAPHOS). Themedium was changed after 24 hours and viral supernatant was collected at36, 40, 44 and 60 hours after transfection. 1 million Ba/F3 cells weretransduced with the fresh viral supernatant, in 6 well plates byspinoculation (4 μg/ml of polybrene, 1350 g, 30 minutes at 32° C.), atevery virus collection point. The cells were analyzed for transductionefficiency by flow cytometry, 48 hours after the final transductionstep. The GFP positive cells were sorted by FACS and the sortingefficiency was analyzed by flow cytometry.

Proliferation and Viability Assays

To assess the viability of transduced Ba/F3 cells in presence ofinterleukin-3, cells were plated in 96-well plates at 5000 cells perwell in triplicates on a dilution series of interleukin-3 (highest dose25 ng/ml). After 72 hours cell viability was determined by theCellTiter-Glo® Luminescent Cell Viability Assay (Promega).

To determine cell proliferation in the absence of interleukin-3, Ba/F3cells were plated in 12-well plates at 1000000 cells per well intriplicates and cultured for 7 days in complete RPMI (with 10% FCS,Pen/Strep and L-glutamine) without interleukin-3. Every 24 hours cellnumber was assessed using CASY® Cell Counter (Roche Innovatis).

To define the sensitivity to the inhibitor SAR302503 (Sanofi), Ba/F3cells were plated in 96-well plates at 25000 cells per well intriplicates on a dilution series of SAR302503 (highest concentration 40μM) and in presence of 10 ng/ml interleukin-3. After 48 hours cellviability was determined by the CellTiter-Glo® Luminescent CellViability Assay (Promega).

Interleukin-3 Stimulation and Western Blotting

Ba/F3 cells were cultured in complete RPMI (10% FCS, Pen/Strep,L-glutamine) in the presence of 1 ng/ml of interleukin-3. Cells werestarved in serum free medium without interleukin-3 for 4 hours.Stimulation was performed with respective concentration ofinterleukin-3, for 20 minutes. The cells were pelleted and proteinextraction was done as described before (Corvinus et al, 2005). Briefly,complete whole cell extract buffer (containing the protease andphosphatase inhibitors) was added to the cells, and lysis was done by 3consecutive freeze-thaw cycles with liquid Nitrogen. Lysates werecollected after centrifugation for 20 minutes at 20,000 g. Proteinconcentration was measured using the Bradford reagent. Western blot wasperformed by standard techniques and 50 μg of protein was loaded perwell. The following antibodies were used—pYStat5 (Invitrogen, #71-6900),Stat5 (Santa Cruz, sc-836), Calreticulin (Millipore, MABT145), GAPDH(Santa Cruz, sc-32233), anti-rabbit HRP (GE, NA934) and anti-mouse HRP(GE, NA931).

Immunofluorescence

HEK293T cells were seeded on glass coverslips coated with 0.1% gelatintransfected with the CMV-CALR wt and CMV-CALR del52 plasmids bylipofection (Invitrogen), according to the manufacturer's instructions,for 24 hours. ER staining was visualized using anti-Calnexin (ab31290,abcam); secondary anti-mouse AlexaFluor 546 (Invitrogen).Anti-Calreticulin antibody (MABT145, Millipore) was used to stain CALR;secondary anti-rabbit AlexaFlour 594 (Invitrogen). Slides werevisualized using an LSM780 (Carl Zeiss, Germany) with a GaAsPmulti-detector unit and two PMTs. Pinhole was set to 1AU on eachchannel. Images were taken sequentially, and channels selected, toreduce overlap. Images were taken at 100× and analyzed with ImageJ (NIH,open source.).

Statistical Analysis

Statistical analysis was performed with the use of standard methods.Hypothesis testing was carried out with a non-parametric approach. Alltests were two-tailed and P-values were considered significant whenlower than 0.05. Microsoft Office Excel (Copyright Microsoft Corp),Stata 11.2 (Copyright StataCorp LP) and R 2.15.2 (R Core Team, 2012)were used for data management and analysis. The cumulative incidence ofthrombotic complications was estimated with a competing risk approachaccording to the Kalbfleisch-Prentice method (Kalbfleisch & Prentice,1980). Death in absence of the event of interest was considered as acompeting event.

Results

Whole Exome Sequencing Reveals Recurrent Mutations of CALR in PMF(Primary Myelofibrosis)

Genomic DNA from peripheral blood granulocytes (tumor tissue) and CD3⁺T-lymphocytes (control tissue) from 6 patients with PMF was analyzedusing whole exome sequencing. Independent validation of the detectedvariants using classical Sanger sequencing confirmed somatic mutationsin between two and twelve genes per patient. The only recurrentlyaffected gene was CALR encoding calreticulin. Two patients harboredsomatic deletions in exon 9 of CALR. PCR product subcloning andsequencing revealed that patient 191 had a 52 base pair deletion andpatient 296 harbored a one base pair deletion (FIG. 1). As the 52 basepair deletion in patient 191 was incorrectly annotated as a one basepair deletion coupled with a single nucleotide variant by our variantcalling analysis pipeline the sequence alignment of patient 191 wasmanually reviewed. A misalignment of the sequencing reads covering thesite of mutation was observed. The incorrect alignment was due to arepetitive element in the affected genomic region. Following up on thisfinding the sequence alignments for the remaining four patients wereinvestigated and a recurrent 5 bp insertion was detected in all 4patients. The mutations of CALR found in the patients by whole exomesequencing were confirmed to be somatic by Sanger sequencing of thematched T-lymphocyte DNA samples. In summary, all six PMF patientsanalyzed by whole exome sequencing harbored somatic insertion ordeletion mutations in exon 9 of CALR.

Frequency of CALR Exon 9 Mutations in Myeloproliferative Neoplasm (MPN)Patients

In order to estimate the prevalence of CALR mutations in MPN a cohort of896 MPN patients was screened for insertion and deletion mutations inCALR exon 9 using high-resolution sizing of fluorescent dye-labelled PCRproducts. This cohort included 382 patients with polycythemia vera (PV),311 with essential thrombocythemia (ET) and 203 with primarymyelofibrosis (PMF) (Table 1). 150 samples harboring insertions ordeletions in CALR (17%) were identified. The mutations have beenindependently validated by Sanger sequencing. In PV no CALR mutationswere observed. In ET and PMF, 78 (25%) and 72 (35%) patients hadmutations in CALR, respectively (Table 1). All patients were genotypedfor the JAK2-V617F mutation. PV patients negative for this mutation weretested for mutations in JAK2 exon 12. ET and PMF patients with wildtypeJAK2 were tested for mutations in MPL exon 10.

The distribution of JAK2, MPL and CALR mutations in the three MPNdisease entities is depicted in FIG. 2A. All patients with mutant CALRhad wild type JAK2 and MPL. Therefore, mutations in CALR significantlyassociate with ET (P=9.33×10⁻⁴⁵) and PMF (P=1.71×10⁻⁴⁴) that are wildtype for JAK2 and MPL mutations. A total of 67 MPN patients tested wildtype for JAK2 and MPL as well as for CALR exon 9. Of these“triple-negative” cases, 19 patients were Sanger sequenced for mutationsin all 9 exons of CALR but no mutations were detected.

As CALR mutations were highly associated with JAK2 and MPL wild type ETor PMF, another 211 patients falling into this disease category wereanalyzed. In total, of 289 JAK2/MPL wild type ET patients 195 had mutantCALR (67%). Of the combined 120 JAK2/MPL wild type PMF patients, 105 hada mutation in CALR (88%). In 150 patients with mutant CALR for whom wehad matched T-lymphocyte DNA available, the mutations were somatic.

TABLE 1 Comparison of JAK2, MPL, and CALR mutations in the threesubtypes of MPN (number of patients are shown). MPN JAK2 MPL CALRJAK2/MPL/CALR subtype N mutant mutant mutant wild type ET 311 184 11 7838 PMF 203 108 13 72 10 PV 382 363 0 0 19 total: 896 655 24 150 67

Frequency of CALR Mutations in Other Myeloid Malignancies

To investigate if CALR mutations are present in other myeloidmalignancies we screened 254 patients with de novo AML, 45 with chronicmyeloid leukemia, 73 with myelodysplastic syndrome, 64 with chronicmyelomonocytic leukemia and 24 with refractory anemia withringsideroblasts associated with marked thrombocytosis for mutations inCALR exon 9. While the vast majority of these patients had wild typeCALR exon 9, three patients with refractory anemia with ringsideroblasts associated with marked thrombocytosis harbored mutations inCALR (FIG. 2B), all of them having wild-type JAK2 and MPL (FIG. 2C).Mutations in the gene encoding splicing factor 3B, subunit 1 (SF3B1)co-occurred with mutations in all three genes. Out of 524 healthysubjects one had a 3 bp in-frame deletion in CALR.

CALR Frameshift Mutations Substitute the C-Terminal Amino Acid Sequencewith a Novel Peptide Derived from an Alternative Reading Frame

A total of 36 different types of mutations in CALR including insertions,deletions, combinations of deletions and insertions, as well ascombinations of insertions/deletions with single nucleotide variants wasdetected. All observed mutations result in a frameshift to thealternative reading frame 1 of CALR (FIG. 3A). This leads to a markedchange in the amino acid composition of the C-terminus of the mutantCALR protein (FIG. 3B). The C-terminus derived from exon 9 in wild typeCALR is highly negatively charged, whereas the peptides of the mutantsderived from the alternative reading frame 1 are positively charged. Asthe alternative reading frame 2 has a number of stop codons, frameshiftmutations into this frame would result in a premature termination oftranslation and truncation of the protein (FIG. 3B). No frameshiftmutations into the alternative reading frame 2 were observed in the MPNpatients studied. The 36 types of mutations are depicted in FIG. 3C. Dueto the different sizes and positions of the mutations gains and lossesof variable numbers of amino acids are found at the C-terminal region ofthe protein (Table 2). All frameshift mutations generate a novelC-terminal amino acid sequence (Table 2). Full-length protein sequencesof all mutants are shown in SEQ ID NO: 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168,172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224,228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256, 260, 264, 268, 272, 276, 280,284, 288. The cDNA sequences around the mutation junctions are providedin Table 3.

TABLE 2 C-terminal amino acid sequences of insertion/deletion frameshiftmutations of CALR found in MPN patients.Table 2 discloses SEQ ID NOs 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 4, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100,104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, and 144,respectively, in order of appearance. Type 1           TRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 2          NCRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 3         QRTRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 4      RRRQRTRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 5        GQRTRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 6       RRQRTRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 7            RRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 8       RRQRTRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 9        RQRTRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 10          MCRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 11      DQRQRTRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 12     RRRRQRTRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 13     QRRRQRTRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 14      RRRQRTRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 15      RRRERTRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 16      QRRQRTRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 17       RRQWTRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 18             RMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 19        RQRTRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 20      GRRQRTRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 21       AFKRTRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 22  NAKRRRRQRTRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 23   CVRRRRQRTRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 24       RRQRTRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 25        RQRTRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 26  NAKRRRRQRTRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 27 CFAKRRRRQRTRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 28            RRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 29       PPLCLRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 30        DHPCRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 31         GNCRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 32           CRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 33           CRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 34          TCRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 35          ICRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA- Type 36           CRRMMRTKMRMRRMRRTRRKMRRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA-

TABLE 3 Sequences of mutation junctions in the cDNA sequence of CALRfor the design of mutation specific probes or PCR primers.Table 7 discloses SEQ ID NOS 440-475, respectively,in order of appearance. CALR mutationcDNA junction sequences in mutated positions Type 1GAAGGACAAACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGATGAT Type 2GAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAATTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAG Type 3GGACAAACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGAT Type 4CAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGG Type 5TGAAGGACAAACAGGACGAGGGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGATGA Type 6AGGACAAACAGGACGAGGAGCGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGA Type 7CAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAG Type 8GGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAG Type 9CAAGAAACGCAAAGAGGAGGAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGAT Type 10 AGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACATGTGTC GGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAG Type 11 AAGGACAAACAGGACGAGGA

CAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGAT Type 12CAAACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGAC Type 13 AACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCA GAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAG Type 14ACAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAG Type 15CAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAGGAGGAGG

AGAGGACAAGGAGGATGATG Type 16 CAGGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTT CAGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAG Type 17 GGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGAGGCAG

GGACAAGGAGGATGATGAGG Type 18 GGACGAGGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGATType 19 GGAGCAGAGGCTTAAGGAGGAGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGAT Type 20GGCTTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGA Type 21 GGCTTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGCGTTTA AGAGGACAAGGAGGATGATGA Type 22CTTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAACGCAAAGAGGAGGAGGAGG Type 23 CTTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACTGCGT GAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGAC Type 24CTTAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGG Type 25 TAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAAA AGGCAGAGGACAAGGAGGATG Type 26TAAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAAAAACGCAAAGAGGAGGAGGAG Type 27 AAGGAGGAGGAAGAAGACAAGTGTTT CGCAAAGAGGAGGAGGAGGCA Type 28GGAAGAAGACAAGAAACGCAAAAGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAA Type 29 GAAGACAAGAAACGCAAAGAGCCTCCTCTTTGTCT AAGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAA Type 30 AGACAAGAAACGCAAAGAGGACCATCCTTGTC GGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGA Type 31 AGAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGG

CAATTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAG Type 32 GAGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGAC TGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGA Type 33GAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAATGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAG Type 34AGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACA CTTGTC GGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGA Type 35AGGAGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACA TTTGTC GGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGA Type 36AGGAGGAGGCAGAGGACAAGTGTCGGAGGATGATGAGGACAAAGA Bold letters indicate theborders of a deletion event; underlined letters indicate insertedsequences; Bold and italic letters indicate single nucleotide variants

Myeloid cell specific somatic mutations in the CALR gene were identifiedin patients with MPN. The mutations strongly associate with thosepatients that are negative for both JAK2 and MPL mutations (thepreviously described disease causing mutations in MPN). As CALRmutations are found in 88% of PMF cases, and in 67% of ET cases doublenegative for JAK2 and MPL, it is believed that CALR mutations arefilling in a large diagnostic gap for JAK2/MPL negative ET and PMF.Therefore, detection of CALR mutations at the level of genomic DNA, RNAor cDNA offers an important diagnostic test for MPN.

All identified mutations of CALR are in last exon 9 encoding theC-terminal amino acids of the protein and are predominantlyinsertion/deletion mutations. The vast majority of mutations werepresent in a heterozygous state and they cause a frameshift to the samealternative reading frame. This frameshift results in the replacement ofthe C-terminal negatively charged amino acids (aspartic and glutamicacid rich) of calreticulin by a predominantly positively chargedpolypeptide rich in arginine and methionine. In addition, the last 4amino acids of calreticulin (KDEL (SEQ ID NO: 1331)) contain theendoplasmatic reticulum retention signal. This signal is absent in themutant calreticulin suggesting that the mutant protein is lessrepresented in the ER compared to the wild type protein. As thenegatively charged C-terminus of calreticulin is the low affinity highcapacity Ca2+ binding domain, it is believed that the Ca2+ bindingfunction of the mutant protein is lost.

From all CALR mutated cases, mutations of type 1 (52 base pair deletion)and type 2 (5 base pair insertion) were representing 53% and 32%,respectively (FIGS. 3D,E). The other mutation types were observed atmuch lower frequencies, many detected only in a single patient (FIG.3E). As all 36 mutation types frameshift to alternative reading frame 1,the resulting mutant CALR proteins share a common novel amino acidsequence at the C-terminus (Table 2). The C-terminal peptide derivedfrom alternative reading frame 1 contains a number of positively chargedamino acids, whereas the wild type CALR C-terminus is largely negativelycharged (FIG. 3B). In addition, the wild type calreticulin contains theendoplasmic reticulum retention motif at the C-terminal end (KDEL (SEQID NO: 1331) amino acid sequence). The C-terminal KDEL end (SEQ ID NO:1331) is lost in all mutant variants (Table 2). Depending on the type ofmutation, the mutant proteins retain variable amounts of the negativelycharged amino acids of wild type calreticulin. The 52 base pairdeletions of type 1 eliminate almost all negatively charged amino acids,whereas the 5 base pair insertions of type 2 retain approximately halfof negatively charged amino acids (FIG. 3D). Given these differences, wehypothesized that type 1 and type 2 mutations may be associated withqualitatively different phenotypes. Accordingly, we found that the type1 deletions were significantly more frequent in primary myelofibrosiscompared to essential thrombocythemia (P=0.0007). In addition, wedetected only 3 patients homozygous for CALR mutations associated withuniparental disomy of chromosome 19p and all 3 cases had a 5 base pairinsertion of type 2 (FIG. 4A).

CALR Mutations are Acquired Early in the Clonal Evolution and MutantClones are Stable

In order to investigate whether mutations in CALR are acquired early orlate in the clonal history of a patient, we analyzed hematopoieticprogenitor colonies from two patients for which we had mutationalprofiles from whole exome sequencing. The clonal hierarchies of patientsH_0191 and H_0296 are shown in FIG. 4B. We conclude that mutations inCALR were acquired early in the major clones of the two patientsanalyzed.

For 24 patients with mutant CALR we had follow-up samples available, allof which tested positive for the mutation.

Clinical Significance of CALR Mutations

Overall we studied 1215 patients with essential thrombocythemia orprimary myelofibrosis Table 4. Of those, 63.4% carried JAK2-V617F, 4.4%carried activating mutations of MPL exon 10, 23.5% carried mutations ofCALR exon 9, and only 8.8% had none of the previous clonal markers. Ofnote, most of these latter patients clustered in the essentialthrombocythemia subgroup. We used the Wilcoxon rank-sum test to comparehematologic values in patients carrying different mutant genes. Withinpatients with essential thrombocythemia, those carrying CALR mutationhad lower hemoglobin level, lower white blood cell count, and higherplatelet count at diagnosis compared with patients carrying mutant JAK2(P<0.001 in all instances). Within patients with primary myelofibrosis,those carrying a CALR mutation had a lower white blood cell count(P=0.027) and a higher platelet count (P<0.001) than patients withmutant JAK2. Overall survival and risk of thrombosis were analyzed onlyin patients carrying a mutation in JAK2, MPL, or CALR, i.e., having aclonal marker. Assuming that mutation status did not change with time,we did all analyses since initial diagnosis. Since 6 patients wereexcluded due to inadequate follow-up, a total of 1102 patients wereexamined. The median follow-up for the whole cohort of patients with anyof the three genes mutated was 5.7 years (range 0-31 years). As shown inFIG. 5A, there was a significant difference in overall survival betweenthe 3 subgroups of patients with primary myelofibrosis (P<0.001). Thosecarrying a somatic mutation of CALR had a better overall survival thanthose with JAK2 (P<0.001) or MPL mutation (P<0.001), while no differencewas observed between the latter two subgroups. In patients withessential thrombocythemia, who have much longer overall survivals, therewas a significant difference only between CALR mutated and JAK2 mutatedpatients (P=0.043, FIG. 5B). In a Cox regression multivariate analysisof overall survival including type of myeloid neoplasm (essentialthrombocythemia versus primary myelofibrosis), type of mutant gene, andpatient cohort (Pavia versus Vienna) as covariates, the first twofactors were found to be independent prognostic factors. As expected,primary myelofibrosis was associated with shorter overall survival ascompared with essential thrombocythemia (hazard ratio of death 7.1,P<0.001, CI 4.9-10.2). In addition, the type of mutant gene had anindependent effect on survival. In fact, as compared with patientscarrying a CALR mutation, both those with JAK2 (hazard ratio 3.1,P<0.001, CI 2.0-4.7) and those carrying an MPL mutation (hazard ratio3.5, P<0.001, CI 1.8-6.7) had a higher risk of death. The cumulativeincidence of thrombosis in essential thrombocythemia was calculated witha competing risk approach with death from all causes as a competingevent, and is reported in Table 5 while the actual curves are shown inFIG. 5C. Patients with essential thrombocythemia carrying a CALRmutation had a lower risk of thrombosis than patients carrying a JAK2mutation (P=0.003), while no significant difference was found betweenthe other subgroups. It should be noted that the subgroup of patientscarrying an MPL mutation was small.

TABLE 4 Cohort descriptives for the 1215 patients used to estimateclinical significance of CALR mutations JAK2 MPL exon CALR JAK2/MPL/CALRAll mutated 10 mutated mutated wild type patients Diagnosis (n = 770) (n= 53) (n = 285) (n = 107) (n = 1215) Essential 581 35 186 92 894thrombocythemia (65%) (3.9%) (20.8%) (10.3%) Primary 189 18  99 15 321myelofibrosis (58.9%) (5.6%) (30.8%) (4.7%)

TABLE 5 Cumulative incidence of thrombosis comparing patients withmutant JAK2, MPL and CALR Cumulative incidence of thrombosis At 5 yearsAt 10 years At 15 years JAK2-mutated  13% (CI 10-16.4)  21% (CI16.6-25.7) 27.1% (CI 21.4-33) MPL-mutated 9.3% (CI 2.3-22.3) 9.3% (CI2.3-22.3) 17.6% (CI 4.4-38.1) CALR-mutated 6.3% (CI 3.2-10.8)  11% (CI6.3-17.1) 12.8% (CI 7.3-20)

Functional Analysis of the Type 1 CALR Mutation

In order to study the functional effects of mutant CALR we cloned thecDNA of the wild type CALR and the type 1 mutation (52 base pairdeletion) into the retroviral expression vector pMSCV-IRES-GFP. Afterretroviral production and transfection of the CALR cDNAs into theinterleukin-3-dependent murine cell line Ba/F3 we sorted the transgenepositive cells by flow cytometry for GFP. Next we measuredinterleukin-3-dependent proliferation of cells. Cells expressing thetype 1 CALR mutation exhibited interleukin-3-independent growth andhypersensitivity to interleukin-3 (FIG. 6A). When we measured theproliferation of cells in the absence of interleukin-3, only the CALR 52base pair deletion mutation exhibited significant accumulation of cells(FIG. 6B). To investigate if the interleukin-3-independence in the CALR52 base pair deletion mutant cells is caused by activation of JAK-STATsignaling, we determined the sensitivity of cells to the JAK2 kinaseinhibitor SAR302503. As shown in FIG. 7 both wild type and the 52 basepair deletion mutant of CALR showed similar sensitivity to SAR302503suggesting that the interleukin-3-independent growth of the mutant CALRcells is dependent on JAK2 or a JAK family kinase targeted by SAR302503.To confirm this hypothesis, we examined the phosphorylation of STAT5 inthe presence and absence of interleukin-3 in the control and CALRtransfected cell lines. We detected increased phosphorylation of STAT5in the absence of interleukin-3 in the 52 base pair deletion mutant ofCALR and at 0.1 ng/ml interleukin-3 concentration (FIG. 6C). Thus,increased activation of JAK-STAT signaling is likely responsible for thecytokine-independent growth of cells expressing the 52 base pairdeletion mutant of CALR.

Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to determine the localization ofwild type and type 1 mutant CALR. Upon overexpression in HEK cells, thewild type CALR colocalized with the endoplasmic reticulum (stained withcalnexin). In case of the type 1 mutant CALR, this colocalization wasless prominent most likely due to the absence of the KDEL sequence (SEQID NO: 1331) from the C-terminus of the mutant CALR (FIG. 6D).

We have identified somatic mutations in the CALR gene in patients withprimary myelofibrosis and essential thrombocythemia. CALR mutations aremutually exclusive with mutations in both JAK2 and MPL. No CALRmutations were found in polycythemia vera, a myeloproliferative neoplasmthat is specifically associated with JAK2 mutations. CALR mutations arethe second most frequent mutation after JAK2 in myeloproliferativeneoplasms. We have also studied patients with other myeloid neoplasms,and found CALR mutations only in 12.5% of cases with refractory anemiawith ring sideroblasts associated with marked thrombocytosis, a typicalmyelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm (Malcovati et al, 2009) Thisstrongly supports a causal relationship between CALR mutations andexcessive platelet production.

As CALR mutations are found in about 73% of patients that do not carryalterations of JAK2 and MPL, we believe they are filling in the currentmolecular diagnostic gap in myeloproliferative neoplasms. Altogether,only less than 10% of our patients with essential thrombocythemia orprimary myelofibrosis do not carry a somatic mutation of JAK2, MPL orCALR. In some of these subjects, the mutated clone might be too small tobe detected with the current approaches. Rare mutant driver genes mayplay a role in other patients, while some patients might not have aclonal disease at all. This is particularly true for patients with aclinical diagnosis of essential thrombocythemia, as differentialdiagnosis between clonal and reactive thrombocytosis may be difficultwithout a clonal marker (Schafer, 2004). Overall, the assessment of CALRmutations markedly improves the current diagnostic approach foressential thrombocythemia or primary myelofibrosis, and should beincluded in the WHO criteria for these disorders (Sverdlow et al, 2008)

All the mutations of CALR we identified are insertion/deletion mutationsin the last exon encoding the C-terminal amino acids of the protein. Themost mutations are present in a heterozygous state and cause aframeshift to a specific alternative reading frame. This frameshiftresults in the replacement of the C-terminal negatively charged aminoacids of calreticulin by a positively charged polypeptide rich inarginine and methionine. The last 4 amino acids of calreticulin (KDEL(SEQ ID NO: 1331)) contain the endoplasmic reticulum retention signal.This signal is absent in the mutant calreticulin. Consequently mutantcalreticulin has an altered subcellular localization. As the negativelycharged C-terminus of calreticulin is the low-affinity high-capacityCa2+ binding domain, the Ca2+ binding function of the mutant protein maybe impaired. The presence of the peptide sequence derived from thealternative reading frame at the C-terminus of mutated CALR offers anopportunity for immunologic targeting as it represents a cancer specificepitope.

To further analyze the oncogenic capability of the mutant calreticulin,we generated Ba/F3 cells with overexpression of the wild type and thetype 1 mutant CALR (52 base pair deletion—del52). Interestingly, theCALR del52 Ba/F3 cells showed cytokine independent proliferation.However, the growth of Ba/F3 cells expressing wild type and mutantcalreticulin was suppressed equally upon treatment with a JAK2 kinaseinhibitor, suggesting the requirement of the JAK-STAT pathway in themutant calreticulin-induced cytokine independence. In accordance, wecould detect increased phosphorylation of STAT5 in del52 Ba/F3 cells,both in the absence and presence of interleukin-3 stimulation.Calreticulin/Ca2+/calmodulin has been previously shown to modulate theactivity of Stats. Calreticulin complex with ERp57, in endoplasmicreticulum, suppresses the phosphorylation and transcriptional activityof Stat3 in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (Coe et al, 2010). Moreover,inhibition of the Ca2+/calmodulin dependent kinase II gamma results inreduced levels of phosphorylated Stat1, Stat3 and Stat5 (Si & Collins2008). Interestingly, overexpression of calreticulin attenuatesinterferon alpha induced Stat1 phosphorylation, resulting in interferonresistance (Yue et al, 2012). Further studies are required to elucidatethe mechanism of the activation of JAK-STAT pathway by the mutantcalreticulin in myeloid cells. The involvement of the JAK-STAT signalingpathway in CALR positive patients may also explain the effectivity ofJAK2 inhibitor therapy in primary myelofibrosis. However, our resultsindicate that the JAK2 inhibitors may not be selective for cellsexpressing the mutated CALR compared to the CALR wild type cells.

Although our analyses of clinical outcome are retrospective, theystrongly suggest that CALR positive myeloproliferative neoplasms have amore benign clinical course than the corresponding disorders associatedwith JAK2 or MPL mutation. Due to the small number of MPL mutatedpatients, the more reliable comparisons are those between JAK2 mutatedand CALR mutated patients. Our observations clearly show that CALRmutated patients have lower risk of thrombosis and better overallsurvival than JAK2 mutated patients. The lower incidence ofthromboembolic complications might be related to the fact that CALRmutated patients had lower hemoglobin levels and lower white blood cellcounts. A better overall survival was observed both in patients withprimary myelofibrosis and those with essential thrombocythemia, althoughit was much more relevant in the former, confirming previous findings onpatients with and without JAK2 mutations (Campbell et al, 2006b; Rumi etal, 2013). From a practical point of view, the different impact ofmutant genes might be incorporated in existing prognostic scoringsystems for primary myelofibrosis and essential thrombocythemia(Passamonti 2010b, Passamonti 2012) and may also guide therapeuticdecision-making. More specifically, CALR molecular characterizationshould become an essential component of future clinical management ofessential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis.

EXAMPLE 2: GENERATION OF CALR MUTANT SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES IN MICE

The CALR mutations associated with MPN occur in the last exon of thegene (exon 9). These mutations are insertions and/or deletions thatresult in a ‘frameshift’ mutation to a very specific alternative readingframe, leading to synthesis of a novel C-terminal peptide in the mutant.As all the mutations result in generation of the same alternativereading frame, the C-terminal peptide has the same sequence in all theCALR mutants.

A synthetic peptide with the c-terminal end sequence of the mutantcalreticulin protein (Sequence—RRKMSPARPRTSCREACLQGWTEA-), conjugated tothe Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH) was used to immunize four wild typeC57Bl/6 mice.

The mice received 3 booster doses after the primary immunization. Thesera of the mice was tested (pre-immune and after boosters) for thepresence mutant calreticulin specific antibodies by western blotanalysis of lysates from HEK cells that over-expressed the CALR del52and the artificially generated CALR mutant that lacks the exon 9(Aexon9, which lacks the mutant peptide). The lysates were run on 8%polyacrylamide gels and probed with the mouse serum. Anti-mouse antibodyconjugated to HRP (GE NA931) was used as secondary antibody. After thesecond booster, the sera from all four mice had CALR mutant specificantibodies that detected the CALR del52 mutant (FIG. 8), but not thecontrol exon 9 deleted CALR (FIG. 9). Anti-calreticulin antibody(Millipore MABT145) was used as positive control (Pos), which recognizesall three forms of calreticulin—wild type, mutant del 52 and deletedexon 9. The signal, from the sera of all four mice, was stronger afterthe third booster was applied (FIG. 10).

The C-terminal peptide of the mutant calreticulin (mentioned above) isimmunogenic and can successfully be used to generate specificantibodies, in particular polyclonal antibodies against the mutantcalreticulin. These antibodies can be used as research reagents as wellas for diagnostic purposes as disclosed here.

The present invention refers to the following nucleotide and amino acidsequences:

The sequences provided herein are in part available in the NCBI databaseand can be retrieved from www_at_ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=gene;The sequences also relate to annotated and modified sequences. Thepresent invention also provides techniques and methods whereinhomologous sequences, and variants of the concise sequences providedherein are used. Preferably, such “variants” are genetic variants.

SEQ ID No. 1: Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 18

SEQ ID No. 2: Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 18

SEQ ID No. 3: Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 18

SEQ ID No 4: Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 18

SEQ ID No. 5: Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 1

SEQ ID No. 6: Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 1

SEQ ID No. 7: Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 1

SEQ ID No 8: Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 1

SEQ ID No. 9: Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 2

SEQ ID No. 10: Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 2

SEQ ID No. 11 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 2

SEQ ID No. 12 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 2

SEQ ID No. 13 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 3

SEQ ID No. 14 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 3

SEQ ID No. 15 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 3

SEQ ID No. 16 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 3

SEQ ID No. 17 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 4

SEQ ID No. 18 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 4

SEQ ID No. 19 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 4

SEQ ID No. 20 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 4

SEQ ID No. 21 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 5

SEQ ID No. 22 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 5

SEQ ID No. 23 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 5

SEQ ID No. 24 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 5

SEQ ID No. 25 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 6

SEQ ID No. 26 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 6

SEQ ID No. 27 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 6

SEQ ID No. 28 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 6

SEQ ID No. 29 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 7

SEQ ID No. 30 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 7

SEQ ID No. 31 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 7

SEQ ID No. 32 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 7

SEQ ID No. 33 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 8

SEQ ID No. 34 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 8

SEQ ID No. 35 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 8

SEQ ID No. 36 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 8

SEQ ID No. 37 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 9

SEQ ID No. 38 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 9

SEQ ID No. 39 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 9

SEQ ID No. 40 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 9

SEQ ID No. 41 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 10

SEQ ID No. 42 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 10

SEQ ID No. 43 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 10

SEQ ID No. 44 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 10

SEQ ID No. 45 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 11

SEQ ID No. 46 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 11

SEQ ID No. 47 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 11

SEQ ID No. 48 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 11

SEQ ID No.49 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 12

SEQ ID No.50 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 12

SEQ ID No.51 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 12

SEQ ID No.52 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 12

SEQ ID No.53 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 13

SEQ ID No.54 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 13

SEQ ID No.55 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 13

SEQ ID No.56 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 13

SEQ ID No.57 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 14

SEQ ID No.58 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 14

SEQ ID No.59 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 14

SEQ ID No.60 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 14

SEQ ID No.61 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 15

SEQ ID No.62 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 15

SEQ ID No.63 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 15

SEQ ID No.64 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 15

SEQ ID No.65 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 16

SEQ ID No.66 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 16

SEQ ID No.67 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 16

SEQ ID No.68 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 16

SEQ ID No.69 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 17

SEQ ID No.70 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 17

SEQ ID No.71 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 17

SEQ ID No.72 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 17

SEQ ID No.73 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 19

SEQ ID No.74 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 19

SEQ ID No.75 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 19

SEQ ID No.76 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 19

SEQ ID No.77 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 20

SEQ ID No.78 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 20

SEQ ID No.79 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 20

SEQ ID No.80 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 20

SEQ ID No.81 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 21

SEQ ID No.82 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 21

SEQ ID No.83 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 21

SEQ ID No.84 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 21

SEQ ID No.85 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 22

SEQ ID No.86 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 22

SEQ ID No.87 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 22

SEQ ID No.88 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 22

SEQ ID No.89 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 23

SEQ ID No.90 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 23

SEQ ID No.91 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 23

SEQ ID No.92 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 23

SEQ ID No.93 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 24

SEQ ID No.94 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 24

SEQ ID No.95 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 24

SEQ ID No.96 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 24

SEQ ID No.97 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 25

SEQ ID No.98 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 25

SEQ ID No.99 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 25

SEQ ID No.100 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 25

SEQ ID No.101 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 26

SEQ ID No.102 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 26

SEQ ID No.103 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 26

SEQ ID No.104 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 26

SEQ ID No.105 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 27

SEQ ID No.106 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 27

SEQ ID No.107 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 27

SEQ ID No.108 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 27

SEQ ID No.109 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 28

SEQ ID No.110 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 28

SEQ ID No.111 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 28

SEQ ID No.112 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 28

SEQ ID No.113 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 29

SEQ ID No.114 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 29

SEQ ID No.115 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 29

SEQ ID No.116 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 29

SEQ ID No.117 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 30

SEQ ID No.118 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 30

SEQ ID No.119 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 30

SEQ ID No.120 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 30

SEQ ID No.121 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 31

SEQ ID No.122 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 31

SEQ ID No.123 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 31

SEQ ID No.124 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 31

SEQ ID No.125 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 32

SEQ ID No.126 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 32

SEQ ID No.127 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 32

SEQ ID No.128 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 32

SEQ ID No.129 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 33

SEQ ID No.130 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 33

SEQ ID No.131 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 33

SEQ ID No.132 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 33

SEQ ID No.133 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 34

SEQ ID No.134 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 34

SEQ ID No.135 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 34

SEQ ID No.136 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 34

SEQ ID No.137 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 35

SEQ ID No.138 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 35

SEQ ID No.139 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 35

SEQ ID No.140 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 35

SEQ ID No.141 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 36

SEQ ID No.142 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 36

SEQ ID No.143 Nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus of Homosapiens calreticulin mutant type 36

SEQ ID No.144 Amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Homo sapienscalreticulin mutant type 36

SEQ ID No.145 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 1

SEQ ID No.146 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 1

SEQ ID No.147 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 1

SEQ ID No.148 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 1

SEQ ID No.149 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 2

SEQ ID No.150 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 2

SEQ ID No.151 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 2

SEQ ID No.152 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 2

SEQ ID No.153 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 3

SEQ ID No.154 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 3

SEQ ID No.155 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 3

SEQ ID No.156 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 3

SEQ ID No.157 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 4

SEQ ID No.158 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 4

SEQ ID No.159 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 4

SEQ ID No.160 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 4

SEQ ID No.161 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 5

SEQ ID No.162 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 5

SEQ ID No.163 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 5

SEQ ID No.164 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 5

SEQ ID No.165 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 6

SEQ ID No.166 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 6

SEQ ID No.167 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 6

SEQ ID No.168 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 6

SEQ ID No.169 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 7

SEQ ID No.170 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 7

SEQ ID No.171 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 7

SEQ ID No.172 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 7

SEQ ID No.173 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 8

SEQ ID No.174 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 8

SEQ ID No.175 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 8

SEQ ID No.176 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 8

SEQ ID No.177 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 9

SEQ ID No.178 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 9

SEQ ID No.179 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 9

SEQ ID No.180 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 9

SEQ ID No.181 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 10

SEQ ID No.182 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 10

SEQ ID No.183 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 10

SEQ ID No.184 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 10

SEQ ID No.185 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 11

SEQ ID No.186 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 11

SEQ ID No.187 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 11

SEQ ID No.188 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 11

SEQ ID No.189 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 12

SEQ ID No.190 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 12

SEQ ID No.191 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 12

SEQ ID No.192 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 12

SEQ ID No.193 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 13

SEQ ID No.194 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 13

SEQ ID No.195 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 13

SEQ ID No.196 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 13

SEQ ID No.197 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 14

SEQ ID No.198 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 14

SEQ ID No.199 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 14

SEQ ID No.200 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 14

SEQ ID No.201 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 15

SEQ ID No.202 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 15

SEQ ID No.203 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 15

SEQ ID No.204 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 15

SEQ ID No.205 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 16

SEQ ID No.206 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 16

SEQ ID No.207 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 16

SEQ ID No.208 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 16

SEQ ID No.209 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 17

SEQ ID No.210 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 17

SEQ ID No.211 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 17

SEQ ID No.212 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 17

SEQ ID No.213 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 18

SEQ ID No.214 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 18

SEQ ID No.215 Nucleotide sequence encoding the Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 18

SEQ ID No.216 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 18

SEQ ID No.217 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 19

SEQ ID No.218 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 19

SEQ ID No.219 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 19

SEQ ID No.220 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 19

SEQ ID No.221 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 20

SEQ ID No.222 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 20

SEQ ID No.223 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 20

SEQ ID No.224 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 20

SEQ ID No.225 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 21

SEQ ID No.226 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 21

SEQ ID No.227 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 21

SEQ ID No.228 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 21

SEQ ID No.229 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 22

SEQ ID No.230 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 22

SEQ ID No.231 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 22

SEQ ID No.232 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 22

SEQ ID No.233 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 23

SEQ ID No.234 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 23

SEQ ID No.235 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 23

SEQ ID No.236 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 23

SEQ ID No.237 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 24

SEQ ID No.238 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 24

SEQ ID No.239 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 24

SEQ ID No.240 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 24

SEQ ID No.241 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 25

SEQ ID No.242 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 25

SEQ ID No.243 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 25

SEQ ID No.244 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 25

SEQ ID No.245 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 26

SEQ ID No.246 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 26

SEQ ID No.247 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 26

SEQ ID No.248 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 26

SEQ ID No.249 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 27

SEQ ID No.250 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 27

SEQ ID No.251 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 27

SEQ ID No.252 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 27

SEQ ID No.253 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 28

SEQ ID No.254 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 28

SEQ ID No.255 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 28

SEQ ID No.256 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 28

SEQ ID No.257 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 29

SEQ ID No.258 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 29

SEQ ID No.259 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 29

SEQ ID No.260 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 29

SEQ ID No.261 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 30

SEQ ID No.262 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 30

SEQ ID No.263 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 30

SEQ ID No.264 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 30

SEQ ID No.265 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 31

SEQ ID No.266 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 31

SEQ ID No.267 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 31

SEQ ID No.268 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 31

SEQ ID No.269 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 32

SEQ ID No.270 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 32

SEQ ID No.271 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 32

SEQ ID No.272 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 32

SEQ ID No.273 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 33

SEQ ID No.274 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 33

SEQ ID No.275 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 33

SEQ ID No.276 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 33

SEQ ID No.277 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 34

SEQ ID No.278 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 34

SEQ ID No.279 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 34

SEQ ID No.280 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 34

SEQ ID No.281 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 35

SEQ ID No.282 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 35

SEQ ID No.283 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 35

SEQ ID No.284 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 35

SEQ ID No.285 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 36

SEQ ID No.286 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 36

SEQ ID No.287 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinmutant type 36

SEQ ID No.288 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin mutanttype 36

SEQ ID No.289 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinwild type

SEQ ID No.290 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin wild type

SEQ ID No.291 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 1

SEQ ID No.292 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 1

SEQ ID No.293 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 1

SEQ ID No.294 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 1

SEQ ID No.295 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 2

SEQ ID No.296 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 2

SEQ ID No.297 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 2

SEQ ID No.298 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 2

SEQ ID No.299 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 3

SEQ ID No.300 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 3

SEQ ID No.301 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 3

SEQ ID No.302 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 3

SEQ ID No.303 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 4

SEQ ID No.304 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 4

SEQ ID No.305 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 4

SEQ ID No.306 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 4

SEQ ID No.307 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 5

SEQ ID No.308 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 5

SEQ ID No.309 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 5

SEQ ID No.310 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 5

SEQ ID No.311 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 6

SEQ ID No.312 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 6

SEQ ID No.313 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 6

SEQ ID No.314 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 6

SEQ ID No.315 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 7

SEQ ID No.316 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 7

SEQ ID No.317 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 7

SEQ ID No.318 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 7

SEQ ID No.319 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 8

SEQ ID No.320 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 8

SEQ ID No.321 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 8

SEQ ID No.322 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 8

SEQ ID No.323 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 9

SEQ ID No.324 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 9

SEQ ID No.325 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 9

SEQ ID No.326 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 9

SEQ ID No.327 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 10

SEQ ID No.328 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 10

SEQ ID No.329 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 10

SEQ ID No.330 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 10

SEQ ID No.331 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 11

SEQ ID No.332 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 11

SEQ ID No.333 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 11

SEQ ID No.334 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 11

SEQ ID No.335 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 12

SEQ ID No.336 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 12

SEQ ID No.337 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 12

SEQ ID No.338 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 12

SEQ ID No.339 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 13

SEQ ID No.340 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 13

SEQ ID No.341 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 13

SEQ ID No.342 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 13

SEQ ID No.343 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 14

SEQ ID No.344 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 14

SEQ ID No.345 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 14

SEQ ID No.346 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 14

SEQ ID No.347 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 15

SEQ ID No.348 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 15

SEQ ID No.349 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 15

SEQ ID No.350 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 15

SEQ ID No.351 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 16

SEQ ID No.352 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 16

SEQ ID No.353 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 16

SEQ ID No.354 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 16

SEQ ID No.355 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 17

SEQ ID No.356 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 17

SEQ ID No.357 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 17

SEQ ID No.358 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 17

SEQ ID No.359 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 18

SEQ ID No.360 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 18

SEQ ID No.361 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 18

SEQ ID No.362 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 18

SEQ ID No.363 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 19

SEQ ID No.364 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 19

SEQ ID No.365 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 19

SEQ ID No.366 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 19

SEQ ID No.367 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 20

SEQ ID No.368 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 20

SEQ ID No.369 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 20

SEQ ID No.370 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 20

SEQ ID No.371 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 21

SEQ ID No.372 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 21

SEQ ID No.373 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 21

SEQ ID No.374 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 21

SEQ ID No.375 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 22

SEQ ID No.376 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 22

SEQ ID No.377 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 22

SEQ ID No.378 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 22

SEQ ID No.379 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 23

SEQ ID No.380 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 23

SEQ ID No.381 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 23

SEQ ID No.382 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 23

SEQ ID No.383 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 24

SEQ ID No.384 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 24

SEQ ID No.385 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 24

SEQ ID No.386 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 24

SEQ ID No.387 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 25

SEQ ID No.388 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 25

SEQ ID No.389 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 25

SEQ ID No.390 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 25

SEQ ID No.391 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 26

SEQ ID No.392 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 26

SEQ ID No.393 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 26

SEQ ID No.394 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 26

SEQ ID No.395 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 27

SEQ ID No.396 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 27

SEQ ID No.397 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 27

SEQ ID No.398 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 27

SEQ ID No.399 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 28

SEQ ID No.400 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 28

SEQ ID No.401 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 28

SEQ ID No.402 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 28

SEQ ID No.403 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 29

SEQ ID No.404 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 29

SEQ ID No.405 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 29

SEQ ID No.406 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 29

SEQ ID No.407 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 30

SEQ ID No.408 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 30

SEQ ID No.409 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 30

SEQ ID No.410 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 30

SEQ ID No.411 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 31

SEQ ID No.412 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 31

SEQ ID No.413 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 31

SEQ ID No.414 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 31

SEQ ID No.415 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 32

SEQ ID No.416 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 32

SEQ ID No.417 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 32

SEQ ID No.418 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 32

SEQ ID No.419 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 33

SEQ ID No.420 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 33

SEQ ID No.421 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 33

SEQ ID No.422 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 33

SEQ ID No.423 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 34

SEQ ID No.424 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 34

SEQ ID No.425 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 34

SEQ ID No.426 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 34

SEQ ID No.427 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 35

SEQ ID No.428 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 35

SEQ ID No.429 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 35

SEQ ID No.430 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 35

SEQ ID No.431 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 36

SEQ ID No.432 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 36

SEQ ID No.433 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 mutant type 36

SEQ ID No.434 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9mutant type 36

SEQ ID No.435 Nucleotide sequence encoding Homo sapiens calreticulinexon 9 wild type

SEQ ID No.436 Amino acid sequence of Homo sapiens calreticulin exon 9wild type

The following table provides an overview of herein provided and used SEQID NOs.

SEQ ID NO genomic copy(c) DNA DNA mRNA protein C-terminus (minimumsequence) 1 2 3 4 of mutant calreticulin C-termini of mutantcalreticulin type 1 5 6 7 8 type 2 9 10 11 12 type 3 13 14 15 16 type 417 18 19 20 type 5 21 22 23 24 type 6 25 26 27 28 type 7 29 30 31 32type 8 33 34 35 36 type 9 37 38 39 40 type 10 41 42 43 44 type 11 45 4647 48 type 12 49 50 51 52 type 13 53 54 55 56 type 14 57 58 59 60 type15 61 62 63 64 type 16 65 66 67 68 type 17 69 70 71 72 type 18 1 2 3 4type 19 73 74 75 76 type 20 77 78 79 80 type 21 81 82 83 84 type 22 8586 87 88 type 23 89 90 91 92 type 24 93 94 95 96 type 25 97 98 99 100type 26 101 102 103 104 type 27 105 106 107 108 type 28 109 110 111 112type 29 113 114 115 116 type 30 117 118 119 120 type 31 121 122 123 124type 32 125 126 127 128 type 33 129 130 131 132 type 34 133 134 135 136type 35 137 138 139 140 type 36 141 142 143 144 full length mutantcalreticulin type 1 145 146 147 148 type 2 149 150 151 152 type 3 153154 155 156 type 4 157 158 159 160 type 5 161 162 163 164 type 6 165 166167 168 type 7 169 170 171 172 type 8 173 174 175 176 type 9 177 178 179180 type 10 181 182 183 184 type 11 185 186 187 188 type 12 189 190 191192 type 13 193 194 195 196 type 14 197 198 199 200 type 15 201 202 203204 type 16 205 206 207 208 type 17 209 210 211 212 type 18 213 214 215216 type 19 217 218 219 220 type 20 221 222 223 224 type 21 225 226 227228 type 22 229 230 231 232 type 23 233 234 235 236 type 24 237 238 239240 type 25 241 242 243 244 type 26 245 246 247 248 type 27 249 250 251252 type 28 253 254 255 256 type 29 257 258 259 260 type 30 261 262 263264 type 31 265 266 267 268 type 32 269 270 271 272 type 33 273 274 275276 type 34 277 278 279 280 type 35 281 282 283 284 type 36 285 286 287288 full length wild-type calreticulin 289 290 Exon 9 of mutantcalreticulin type 1 291 292 293 294 type 2 295 296 297 298 type 3 299300 301 302 type 4 303 304 305 306 type 5 307 308 309 310 type 6 311 312313 314 type 7 315 316 317 318 type 8 319 320 321 322 type 9 323 324 325326 type 10 327 328 329 330 type 11 331 332 333 334 type 12 335 336 337338 type 13 339 340 341 342 type 14 343 344 345 346 type 15 347 348 349350 type 16 351 352 353 354 type 17 355 356 357 358 type 18 359 360 361362 type 19 363 364 365 366 type 20 367 368 369 370 type 21 371 372 373374 type 22 375 376 377 378 type 23 379 380 381 382 type 24 383 384 385386 type 25 387 388 389 390 type 26 391 392 393 394 type 27 395 396 397398 type 28 399 400 401 402 type 29 403 404 405 406 type 30 407 408 409410 type 31 411 412 413 414 type 32 415 416 417 418 type 33 419 420 421422 type 34 423 424 425 426 type 35 427 428 429 430 type 36 431 432 433434 Exon 9 of wild-type calreticulin 435 436

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All references cited herein are fully incorporated by reference. Havingnow fully described the invention, it will be understood by a personskilled in the art that the invention may be practiced within a wide andequivalent range of conditions, parameters and the like, withoutaffecting the spirit or scope of the invention or any embodimentthereof.

1-88. (canceled)
 89. A method of detecting a mutated calreticulinallele, the method comprising detecting or having detected the presenceof a mutated calreticulin allele in a sample from a patient sufferingfrom a myeloid malignancy or from a patient suspected of suffering froma myeloid malignancy, wherein the mutated calreticulin allele isdetected by the presence of one or more mutations in the calreticulinexon 9 nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:435.
 90. The method of claim89, wherein the mutated calreticulin allele is detected by sequencingthe exon 9 nucleic acid sequence.
 91. The method of claim 89, whereinthe mutated calreticulin allele is detected by fragment analysis of theexon 9 nucleic acid sequence.
 92. The method of claim 89, wherein themutated calreticulin allele is detected by both sequencing the exon 9nucleic acid sequence and by fragment analysis of the exon 9 nucleicacid sequence.
 93. The method of claim 90, wherein sequencing isperformed by Sanger sequencing or bidirectional Sanger sequencing. 94.The method of claim 89, wherein the exon 9 nucleic acid sequencecomprises insertions in SEQ ID NO:435.
 95. The method of claim 89,wherein the exon 9 nucleic acid sequence comprises deletions in SEQ IDNO:435.
 96. The method of claim 89, wherein the exon 9 nucleic acidsequence comprises a frameshift mutation in SEQ ID NO:435.
 97. Themethod of claim 89, wherein the exon 9 nucleic acid sequence isamplified with primers that specifically hybridize to exon 9 of thecalreticulin gene and determining the size of the amplified nucleic acidsequence.
 98. The method of claim 97, wherein amplifying is performed bypolymerase chain reaction (PCR).
 99. The method of claim 97, whereindetermining the size of the amplified nucleic acid sequence is performedby a sizing assay.
 100. The method of claim 99, wherein the sizing assayis electrophoresis.
 101. The method of claim 89, wherein the one or moremutations in the exon 9 nucleic acid sequence is detected by any one ormore of: random amplified polymorphic detection (RAPD), amplifiedfragment length polymorphism detection (AFLPD), allele specificoligonucleotide (ASO) probes, TaqMan probe principle, hybridization toDNA microarrays or beads, and/or high resolution melting (HRM).
 102. Themethod of claim 89, wherein the sample is a bone marrow sample or ablood sample.
 103. The method of claim 89, wherein the exon 9 nucleicacid sequence is derived from genomic DNA.
 104. The method of claim 89,wherein the exon 9 nucleic acid sequence is derived from mRNA.
 105. Themethod according to claim 104, wherein the presence of the mRNA isdetermined by RealTime PCR, ReverseTranscriptase PCR, WholeTranscriptome Shotgun Sequencing (RNAseq), in situ hybridization ormicro-arrays.
 106. The method of claim 89, wherein the nucleic acidsequence is derived from cDNA.
 107. The method of claim 89, wherein themutated calreticulin allele is detected by contacting a nucleic acidmolecule from the sample with an oligonucleotide that specificallyhybridizes to a mutated sequence in exon 9 of the calreticulin gene ofSEQ ID NO:435.
 108. The method of claim 107, wherein the method furthercomprises amplifying the mutated sequence.
 109. The method of claim 108,further comprising detecting the amplification product using afluorescent label or dye.
 110. The method of claim 89, wherein thenucleic acid molecule comprises the nucleic acid sequence as shown inSEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22,23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46,47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70,71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94,95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110, 111, 113, 114,115, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126, 127, 129, 130, 131, 133,134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, 143, 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151,153, 154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167, 169, 170,171, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189,190, 191, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207,209, 210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226,227, 229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245,246, 247, 249, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263,265, 266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282,283, 285, 286, 287, 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299, 300, 301, 303,304, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317, 319, 320, 321,323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 335, 336, 337, 339, 340,341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 355, 356, 357, 359,360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373, 375, 376, 377,379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392, 393, 395, 396,397, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 407, 408, 409, 411, 412, 413, 415,416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 431, 432, or 433.